I am a lodger and have recently found out that my landlady is still claiming 25% CT discount

Hasbeen

lakeboat12 wrote: »

I was at my parents during the 2017 election so voted there but haven't seen any form come through regarding registering, unless she`s disposed of them.

Think it was up you to register with the council. If you did not, how could they send you forms?

Move out and report to the council as obviously you have an issue with her?

Marvel1

alfred64 wrote: »

You were told in confidence. Keep it to yourself. No liability to you. If the council do find out about her discount it's her problem. What benefit would it be to you by dropping her in it?

They didn't, they slipped up they were committing fraud.

CarrieVS

There is no particular benefit to you either in notifying the council or in keeping quiet (unless you were to dob her in before moving out, getting your deposit back, and getting a reference from her if you need one. In that case, if she knew it was you, you might suffer the consequences.) It is entirely up to you whether:
- it's a matter of principle not to grass someone up, or
- it's a matter of principle to prevent someone getting away with tax evasion.
There are merits to both positions.

As for registering to vote, although councils may send forms to houses at intervals asking to confirm who is registered to vote there, that's just as a reminder and your landlady does not have any particular responsibility to facilitate you registering to vote. I'm not sure they send them to everyone - I've only ever seen them when I've been living in an HMO, where they might expect a lot of turnover in occupants. Even if she has received such a form and not shown it to you she's done nothing wrong, nor has she prevented you from registering yourself.

Red-Squirrel_2

alfred64 wrote: »

You were told in confidence. Keep it to yourself. No liability to you. If the council do find out about her discount it's her problem. What benefit would it be to you by dropping her in it?

Councils are incredibly short of cash and it’s having a huge impact on essential services, particularly for vulnerable people.

I think it’s a moral duty.

csgohan4

alfred64 wrote: »

You were told in confidence. Keep it to yourself. No liability to you. If the council do find out about her discount it's her problem. What benefit would it be to you by dropping her in it?

And should you need care in future but get declined because there is no money for social care, what goes around comes around.

Honeylife

lakeboat12 wrote: »

I have been living in this property with the landlady since October 2016 but did not sign an agreement as she didn't provide one. She originally told me she would, but it never materialized. As I am about to move out, we were having a conversation about the length of notice I have to give as there isn't a written agreement defining an actual period. I do however, have bank statements and emails confirming that I have lived there. During this conversation, she let slip that she didn't want a written agreement as this would mean that there would be written confirmation about her having a lodger and therefore she would lose her 25% council tax discount. From this I concluded that she hasn't been paying any HMRC tax on the income either.

This worries me as I don`t want to be hit with a bill by her when/if she gets caught. So I wanted to ask, would it be my responsibility or hers to pay the council tax and income tax?

Thanks in advance.

To answer your question it is entirely the responsibility of the LL to pay the Council Tax and HMRC.

She may also be entitled to the CT discount if she is claiming disability allowances.

If she is operating under the RentaRoom scheme then she does NOT have to declare any money if her income from a lodger is up to £7,500 per annum. It is incredible how many people try to report Live in Landlords for alleged tax fraud and don't know about that Tax Allowance!

As you have no liability for any Taxes (as you asked) and are moving out shortly just get on with your own business and forget about hers.

You can register yourself on the Electoral Register where ever you live, that is not obligatory on your LL.

chellvic

she was good enough to take you in so just move out and get on with your life, if she was not short of money she would not take lodgers in in the first place, what have the council ever done for you, it we pay council tax for services that they do not supply, they are the fraudsters. police don't attend non serious crimes, bins don't get emptied, streets are filth. anything else

diggingdude

What have the council ever done???? Seriously????

newatc

Presumably you have built a relationship with her having stayed there for over two years.

She should pay the correct council tax, you would have to be harder than me to report her in these circumstances. Perhaps suggest to her that she should go to the council offices and report that she has made a "mistake".

Honeylife

lakeboat12 wrote: »

It`s fraud.

Have you also considered if she had paid the full council tax, no doubt she would have added that onto your rent!


You, therefore, have saved 25% in charges whilst you have been living there as her lodger. You really have benefitted from her failure to charge you correctly. Did you pay a deposit and do you need a reference from her for future Landlords? She will know its you if you report her.

Personally, I think you are really being mean to consider reporting her into the Council. However, if this is keeping you awake tossing and turning at night, then I suggest you tell her gently at departure she should perhaps consider doing things correctly for any future Lodgers especially Council Tax and a Licence Agreement (available in WH Smith)