Unoccupied CouncilTax

Rosemary7391

I'm not clear whether you've been complaining to the council or asking them for help? What have you offered to pay them? Thing is, it'll need to be enough to clear the debt in a reasonable time as well as cover the ongoing payments, otherwise things will just get worse. It might be worth posting a statement of affairs on the Debt free wannabe board.

You say you can't get a loan to cover the shortfall as it's against the terms - of the mortgage? Can you get one to tie in with the sale, so the mortgage ends as you take out the loan? I don't know if that's possible...

davidmcn

reefs wrote: »

We have explained our financial situation to the council, even provided a full set of finances, bank accounts, loans, overdrafts, etc.

We have asked the council for a discount, and advice and guidance. They haven't responded at all, or offered any assistance or discount.

They're no more obliged to offer you a discount or assistance than any of your other creditors. So I'm not sure what your complaints are about, unless there's something else going on which you haven't told us?

BarryBlue

reefs wrote: »

Thanks for your replies,

We have explained our financial situation to the council, even provided a full set of finances, bank accounts, loans, overdrafts, etc.

We have asked the council for a discount, and advice and guidance. They haven't responded at all, or offered any assistance or discount.

In regards to getting rid of the house, we haven't been able to. We have spoken the mortgage lender numerous times, citizens advice, debt management organisations, solicitors, legal helplines, family, friends, and now here. So far the advice has been keep paying the mortgage. We cannot arrange a loan to pay the deficit as this is not allowed in the terms any loans.

This is so out of control, debt is leading to more debt.

There is a simple solution to reducing the costs here. If you and a partner are living at home and also paying full CT on an empty property, one of you needs to 'move' to the other property. Change the register of electors and then the council tax accounts. That way you will get 25% discount on both properties.

My wife's mother had to vacate her house when her father died as it was unsuitable. But it can't be sold yet as my wife only owns half of it as a tenant-in-common with her mother. So officially my wife lives there. It saves us about £800 a year quite legally.

GDB2222

reefs wrote: »

Hi,

What the hell do we do?

The one ray of light in all this is that there's no mention of your husband owning the old property. Is that right? It's just in your name?

Next question, are you part owner of the new property, or is that all in hubby's name?

The key point here is that you should not be afraid of filing for personal bankruptcy if you are not going to drag hubby down with you. You'll get a discharge in a year, and emerge without the millstone of the old property round your neck.

GDB2222

BarryBlue wrote: »

It saves us about £800 a year quite legally.

Are you sure that is completely legal, actually? I'm not being judgemental, just asking.

davidmcn

GDB2222 wrote: »

Are you sure that is completely legal, actually? I'm not being judgemental, just asking.

No, it's not legal. You can't be on the electoral register if you're not a resident. And you can't claim single occupier discount unless you're actually an occupier.

marksoton

reefs wrote: »

We have explained our financial situation to the council, even provided a full set of finances, bank accounts, loans, overdrafts, etc.

We have asked the council for a discount, and advice and guidance. They haven't responded at all, or offered any assistance or discount.
.

I don't see why any of this is the councils concern.

And they're certainly not obliged to offer discounts based on your bad money management.

GDB2222

davidmcn wrote: »

No, it's not legal.

I was just asking. Nicely.

G_M

As others have sai, the council does not appear to have done anything wrong warranting a complaint. Nor do they have to take your other debts into account.

Your options are either to declare bankrupcy, or get shot of the property which is wracking up further debts as time passes. If the mortgage lender will not permit the loan to bemoved to an unsecured one,then raise a loan elsewhere to pay off the shortfall.

You say "We cannot arrange a loan to pay the deficit as this is not allowed in the terms any loans" but this is clearly not the case. I seriously doubt your brother-i-law, for example, would include a restriction like if he loaned you the money. And there will be other sources too.

Miss_Samantha

Councils have to collect council tax according to the law. As long as they do that you have no ground to complain.

As you are in a difficult situation you should be nice to people who can make or break you. Sending a complaint to the council and asking for a discount was bound not to impress them.

I think that one of the issues is also that every time they send you a bill you complain but you never pay anything.

You could have sent a polite apologetic letter to explain your situation and that you are unable to pay this unexpected tax bill in one go, and to ask whether they would consider allowing you to pay in instalments, along with a cheque for all you can afford now.