Owner didn't declare they had a business and paid rates. Council is chasing me

saver329

Two years after we bought a house, we discovered that the previous owner had run a dog-breeding business and paid non-domestic-rates rates. We found out when the council sent us a £3,000 bill to pay non-domestic-rates rates. We told them that we weren't running a business so they stopped it going forward but are still chasing us for the money from that two year period. It's got to the point where debt collection agencies are involved so I may have to pay. Would I be in the right to go after the previous owner through small claims court? It wasn't disclosed when we bought the house.

bradders1983

Surely its just a simple task of showing you didnt live there at the time by showing them the details of the house sale etc.  Would be thrown out of court in minutes if the council took it that far.

noitsnotme

I assume you were not paying any council tax during the first 2 years of you occupying the house?  Why did it take 2 years to find out?  Business rate bills are normally sent annually.

penners324

The rates aren't in your name are they?
If you've just bought a house you pay council tax not rates.
As above, just show the council the date you bought the house.

phillw

bradders1983 said:

Surely its just a simple task of showing you didnt live there at the time by showing them the details of the house sale etc.  Would be thrown out of court in minutes if the council took it that far.

My understanding is that it's for the two years they did live there, but didn't inform the council that they were not running a business. I would ask the council how they were supposed to know that they needed to do that.
If you've been paying council tax at a property and not running a business and the only evidence they have is that the previous occupant was running a business, then I don't see why you would pay it. But you need to convince the council.
I would certainly ask them why it's taken them two years to send you a bill, when they knew that you'd moved there as you'd notified them by paying your residential council tax.

Malkytheheed

Dont pay a thing. You dont owe it. 
the council are currently (very aggresively) chasing me for 4 bus lane infractions from a vechicle, that I don't and have never owned. I have sent them a letter from the DVLA saying i dont and have never owned this car and yet they continue. You have to laugh, i do. I certainly dont lose any sleep over it as the truth will always out. 

DCFC79

saver329 said:

Two years after we bought a house, we discovered that the previous owner had run a dog-breeding business and paid non-domestic-rates rates. We found out when the council sent us a £3,000 bill to pay non-domestic-rates rates. We told them that we weren't running a business so they stopped it going forward but are still chasing us for the money from that two year period. It's got to the point where debt collection agencies are involved so I may have to pay. Would I be in the right to go after the previous owner through small claims court? It wasn't disclosed when we bought the house.

Don't be silly and pay a debt that clearly isn't yours.

MinuteNoodles

saver329 said:

 Would I be in the right to go after the previous owner through small claims court? It wasn't disclosed when we bought the house.

Nope. It's your responsibility once you become the owners to make sure everything is right in this respect. You would have received letters for a business rates demand.

phillw

MinuteNoodles said:
You would have received letters for a business rates demand.

Not if it was addressed to the previous owners and they redirected their mail.
If the council had written to you and you ignore it then it's not the previous owners fault.

Malkytheheed

MinuteNoodles said:

saver329 said:

 Would I be in the right to go after the previous owner through small claims court? It wasn't disclosed when we bought the house.

Nope. It's your responsibility once you become the owners to make sure everything is right in this respect. You would have received letters for a business rates demand.

Yeah because the first thing we did upon moving into this house was check with the council that the previous owners hadn't been using the property to farm puppies, and to let the council know that I wasn't planning to inherit this business from them. 
To the OP. You don't owe a damn thing. This is the councils problem and their mistake. 

Thrugelmir

Have you paid the council tax that's due for the two year period?