Housemates "forgot" to report my presence to the council

Jellz

Thanks everyone for your help.

My main concern is not my liability for payment, it is the lack of timely reporting to the Council. I would like to make sure they understand that I did not intentionally misrepresent myself and that I have, in good faith (and bad decision-making) since I've been told that my rent includes Council Tax, never checked how much we are paying, and whether I am listed.

I would like to enlist myself to the Council, with the correct moving in date, and I am happy to participate in the back payments. I would like to try and distance myself as much as possible from other people's benefits claims, that part is my worry. I have no rights to benefits, and yet somehow my "house" is benefiting from someone taking them. I never wanted that. I never applied for that. I never signed anything that would give me public funds, and - in many respects - since I was merely paying my agreed rent and had absolutely no knowledge of any housemates' benefits claims, that is what I would like to make sure is known.

Ideally, with minimal defamation of my housemates. I may need to tell the Council that I am submitting my moving in date late in the day as I had believed they have done it, but I'd rather not hammer that in too much - I am not out to get them, merely to protect myself as much as I can from a view that I have intentionally misled any authorities.

CIS

Apodemus wrote: »

A couple of posts have made this point, but surely the occupants are jointly AND SEVERALLY liable. In other words they can shake all of the occupants until they find one with deep enough pockets to pay what is due.

Exactly - once the correct liable parties have been billed they are all equally responsible for the whole Council Tax balance which becomes due and can each be pursued for any of the Council Tax balance outstanding.

Craig

CIS

Jellz wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your help.

My main concern is not my liability for payment, it is the lack of timely reporting to the Council. I would like to make sure they understand that I did not intentionally misrepresent myself and that I have, in good faith (and bad decision-making) since I've been told that my rent includes Council Tax, never checked how much we are paying, and whether I am listed.

I would like to enlist myself to the Council, with the correct moving in date, and I am happy to participate in the back payments. I would like to try and distance myself as much as possible from other people's benefits claims, that part is my worry. I have no rights to benefits, and yet somehow my "house" is benefiting from someone taking them. I never wanted that. I never applied for that. I never signed anything that would give me public funds, and - in many respects - since I was merely paying my agreed rent and had absolutely no knowledge of any housemates' benefits claims, that is what I would like to make sure is known.

Ideally, with minimal defamation of my housemates. I may need to tell the Council that I am submitting my moving in date late in the day as I had believed they have done it, but I'd rather not hammer that in too much - I am not out to get them, merely to protect myself as much as I can from a view that I have intentionally misled any authorities.

From your point of view you'll be fine - just tell them when you moved in, you're a joint tenant and who you're a joint tenant with. A backdated demand notice will arrive in due course.

In respect of the benefit claim he will be at the mercy of the local authority as to what action they take against him for making a false declaration on his claim for Council Tax Support - DWP may also want a word if he has been claiming Housing Benefit.

Craig

Jellz

Thanks Craig