Council Tax - moving from abroad

Antbell85

So I have been travelling around and I spent some time in the USA. I am now back in the UK living in a hotel whilst I wait to move into a property.
I am a UK citizen. The landlord just took a copy of my passport and I updated the council tax address online - I am not moving in for another week. The landlord is paying tax as the property was empty.
Does it make any difference if the property is furnished or unfurnished for ctax?
Landlord said to put down the hotel as my previous address as he has had problems when people have listed foreign addresses?
I am a UK citizen - but there is nothing on the online form where it asks for that.
The landlord said he can complete a different form online if I am struggling to register?

AdrianC

Antbell85 said:

I am a UK citizen. The landlord just took a copy of my passport and I updated the council tax address online - I am not moving in for another week. The landlord is paying tax as the property was empty.
Does it make any difference if the property is furnished or unfurnished for ctax?

No.

I am a UK citizen - but there is nothing on the online form where it asks for that.

That's because nationality is irrelevant for Council Tax.

The landlord took a copy of your passport as proof for the "right to rent" checks. He has a legal obligation to ensure that you can legally live in the UK. A UK passport proves that you do.
https://www.gov.uk/check-tenant-right-to-rent-documents

KatrinaWaves

Most councils don’t offer unoccupied discounts anymore so it wouldn’t make a diff if furnished or not. SOME do, but they are the exception. You are responsible from the date of your tenancy, not the date you move in. Anything before you tenancy start date is up to the landlord. 

Moving from abroad/hotel shouldnt make much difference. The council won’t care too much where you’re from if it’s out of their area. 

When you say you ‘updated the council
tax address online’ what do you mean? I assumed you meant you had registered yourself at the address for council tax but further down your post your say ‘if I am struggling to register’ Most councils now will have a quick ‘moving Into our area’ type form
to fill in to get you set up 

Antbell85

KatrinaWaves said:

Most councils don’t offer unoccupied discounts anymore so it wouldn’t make a diff if furnished or not. SOME do, but they are the exception. You are responsible from the date of your tenancy, not the date you move in. Anything before you tenancy start date is up to the landlord. 

Moving from abroad/hotel shouldnt make much difference. The council won’t care too much where you’re from if it’s out of their area. 

When you say you ‘updated the council
tax address online’ what do you mean? I assumed you meant you had registered yourself at the address for council tax but further down your post your say ‘if I am struggling to register’ Most councils now will have a quick ‘moving Into our area’ type form
to fill in to get you set up 

To clarify I am trying to complete the form - There were 2 forms - moving within the area and moving into the area - well I am in the area as I am currently in a hotel but I came from outside the area. Its a bit confusing - what form I complete. 

Antbell85

Once I complete the form do I need to inform the Landlord or will the council contact him officially? 

AdrianC

Antbell85 said:

KatrinaWaves said:

Most councils don’t offer unoccupied discounts anymore so it wouldn’t make a diff if furnished or not. SOME do, but they are the exception. You are responsible from the date of your tenancy, not the date you move in. Anything before you tenancy start date is up to the landlord. 

Moving from abroad/hotel shouldnt make much difference. The council won’t care too much where you’re from if it’s out of their area. 

When you say you ‘updated the council
tax address online’ what do you mean? I assumed you meant you had registered yourself at the address for council tax but further down your post your say ‘if I am struggling to register’ Most councils now will have a quick ‘moving Into our area’ type form
to fill in to get you set up 

To clarify I am trying to complete the form - There were 2 forms - moving within the area and moving into the area - well I am in the area as I am currently in a hotel but I came from outside the area. Its a bit confusing - what form I complete. 

"Within the area" would require the hotel address within the area.
"From outside the area" would require an address outside the area.
But "From outside" would also normally apply if you aren't simply moving your current council tax bill, because you aren't responsible for the bill at the hotel - which, obvs, you aren't.

You don't say which LA, but let's take...
https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council-tax/tell-us-that-youre-moving-home
https://bristol.erevenues.co.uk/rev/ctaxMovingInStart

macman

Unless you are moving into an HMO, then you are responsible for paying the CT, it's nothing to with the LL (nor should he be registering you for it). Same with all the other utility bills: water, gas, electricity.
'within the area' only applies if you are already registered for CT with the same LA, (so they can cross-reference the accounts), which obviously you are not.

lincroft1710

KatrinaWaves said:

You are responsible from the date of your tenancy, not the date you move in. Anything before you tenancy start date is up to the landlord. 

Slightly misleading, the occupier or if unoccupied the person entitled to occupy is responsible for paying the CT. So if OP moves in prior to commencement of their tenancy, they are responsible for paying CT

greatcrested

You should not complete the registration till you actually move in ot the tenancy starts. If anything happens between now and then to prevent the tenancy going ahead (read a few threads on this forum!) you'll have a nightmare disentangling the council tax. Do it only once you become liable for the CT, not before.

And this is entirely your responsibility, not the landlord's.

Same with utilities (assuming you are responsible). Read the meters on the day you move in and call the gas/electric company, set up an account, and give them the meter readings. No point doing any of this in advance.

Antbell85

macman said:

Unless you are moving into an HMO, then you are responsible for paying the CT, it's nothing to with the LL (nor should he be registering you for it). Same with all the other utility bills: water, gas, electricity.
'within the area' only applies if you are already registered for CT with the same LA, (so they can cross-reference the accounts), which obviously you are not.

That is correct. So its ok if I put my USA address down - it where I was staying for the majority of the time I was there - however I do not have any bills in my name. 

Antbell85

greatcrested said:

You should not complete the registration till you actually move in ot the tenancy starts. If anything happens between now and then to prevent the tenancy going ahead (read a few threads on this forum!) you'll have a nightmare disentangling the council tax. Do it only once you become liable for the CT, not before.

And this is entirely your responsibility, not the landlord's.

Same with utilities (assuming you are responsible). Read the meters on the day you move in and call the gas/electric company, set up an account, and give them the meter readings. No point doing any of this in advance.

I thought the LandLord has responsibility for informing the council as to who is responsible for the tax as he is the owner. If that is not the case why do they ask for the landlord / agents details?