Property with two council tax on it?

Conquest19

Hello everyone,

I have a situation where I’m currently renting and I just moved into a flat with 1 other flatmate who is already there before. So it just the two of us now.

He mentioned he pays the council, so I’ll just give him half which is fair.

However, I just completed a council form to remove my details from my previous address.
So in that process they created a council tax only in my name for the new flat I moved into. Which I did not know.

My main question is I thought a property only has a one council tax attached to it?
I now have the council chasing me up for a failed payment.

Thanks
Bobby

Ratkin007

Do you have separate tenancies? There can only be 1 council tax account if it is an individual property. I'm sure someone else will advise but they have probably ended your flatmates liability and put it in your name. Was your previous address in the same local authority area? Also depending on the set up/tenancies it maybe that the council tax should be in your Landlords name. When you say flatmate, is it their flat and are they letting you stay with them?

Conquest19

I’m not sure, as I never seen the actual tax letter.

I ask him for the council tax number which he has yet to reply back with.

Also I’m currently on holiday in Asia too. So won’t be back 2.5 weeks.

Conquest19

It was a joint tenancy as we are both sharing the rent. He is just a flatmate renter like myself. And yes it is the same authority so both properties are in Southwark council. The landlord lives somewhere else.

davidmcn

If you've told the council that you've moved out of one address and into another, I suspect they've assumed that you're taking over the council tax account at your current address.

Conquest19

Ok but would the council not have added my other flatmate name automatically to onto the council tax.

When I was in the process of removing my details from the previous address it did not mention to give details of new flatmate I’m moving into.

I would have though the council would just do it automatically.

davidmcn

Conquest19 wrote: »

Ok but would the council not have added my other flatmate name automatically to onto the council tax.

When I was in the process of removing my details from the previous address it did not mention to give details of new flatmate I’m moving into.

I would have though the council would just do it automatically.

They're more likely to have automatically assumed that he's moved out and hasn't got around to telling them himself, given that's what usually happens. But we're all just guessing, you'll need to speak to the council (and your flatmate).

Conquest19

Thanks am currently doing so now. Though my flatmate is a bit slow at replying back 😕

CIS

Most likely it's as mentioned above, they've ended one council tax account and created a new one in your name instead of a joint one (as it should be). In that case it's easily solvable by the council.

The quickest and easiest way is to call the council and they can check.

Keep in mind though that there are council tax situations where you may fall solely liable on a joint tennacy, depending on the status of the other occupier (e.g. if he's a full time student).

G_M

Communication!


With your joint tenant to confirm he has been and still is paying the CT.
With your joint tenant toobtain his CT reference.
With the council to correct the double charging (if that is what is happening).

General_Grant

If it was a single occupancy and now a double, the total bill will be different (no discount for single).