Didn't pay council tax during a previous tenancy

derobe

Hello all,
I am in need of some advice, I previously lived in a one bedroom apartment about a year ago.
During the tenancy I paid all the utility bills and rent but actually did not make a council tax payment.
The apartment complex I lived in had a postbox for me but I did not actually use it during my whole entire tenancy.
I have only actually thought of this now as I am considering moving back to the apartment complex albeit a different apartment (have been living back at home for a year). And was discussing the tenancy with the lettings agent today and she mentioned I'd cover the bills, council tax etc and it just hit me then, that I didn't pay council tax last time or ever receive a letter when I last stayed here (I didn't mention this to the agent obv), and I've never heard anything about it since. 
It's been out of sight out of mind, I do not know if there was a record of me living there and if I ever received a letter. No one has ever contacted me about unpaid council tax.
Thanks for advice in advance.

greatcrested

Well you were almost certainly legally required to pay the CT, and the council could take you to court. They may or may not have written to you (hard to believe you never checked your post!).

Having said that it sounds like water under the bridge.....

elsien

You had no post at all while you were there? How long was your tenancy for? 

Are you wanting to know the chances of the council catching up with you? 

derobe

My tenancy was for 6 months. I genuinely was that busy with work that I never checked the postbox, all of my post and packages either was delivered to the office (I'm always there) or to my parents address.
Yes, wanting to know the chances of them catching up with me!
Thank you!

oldbikebloke

what are you expecting us to say??????????????

1. The law is rigid and, as the resident tenant, you have an absolute legal liability that ranks over and above that of the non resident owner to pay the CT. Whether the council is informed of your existence and therefore refunds whoever paid the tax to date and sues you as the labile person is something none of us can say, other than the fact why, under the current economic circumstances, and having been paid as far as they are concerned, would they seek to throw money at chasing a technicality? (You got away with it. I hope that makes you proud and you rub the landlord's nose in it for their ignorance of not having told the council so that the council chased you for non payment)

or 

2,. you got away with it, have not yet been sued by the council, so keep quiet


google Hierarchy of Liability council tax 
 

www.valuationtribunal.gov.uk › 2019/10 › CT-Manual

the legislation is local Govt |Finance Act 1992 section 6 para2 sections a - f (in that precise order and where a is first)
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/14/section/6

derobe

Thanks this makes sense, so the landlord would have been otherwise liable. The same landlord owns all of the apartments in the complex so I am now nervous about re-tenanting there... this could lead to a problem if they paid the tax while I was a tenant there previously and not bothered to chase me, but will now of course be aware of who I am and may bring it up again.
Hmm, not sure if it's best if I find somewhere else now as this could really be opening a can of worms!

warby68

Or you could pay what you owe to whoever is owed, either Council or Landlord or current tenant if they got shafted with your arrears,  then you can carry on not worrying about your past catching up with you.
Not convinced not checking you mail box means you didn't get chased. Perhaps there is a load of correspondence piling up there. 'About a year ago' is not that long, especially when the paqndemic has slowing the legal pursuit of debts.

derobe

I actually lost my post box key very early on in my tenancy and didn't bother to have it replaced, as mentioned all of my packages were going to the office and all other letters were going to my home address (parents) as I didn't want to move everything and then have to do it again as at the time I knew I was going to only be there for 6 months before returning home.
I am prepared to pay what is owed.. I am just trying to figure out the best way to do this.. the last thing I want is to end up in the dock to be sent down the steps, I'm quite aware 'I forgot to check the post' wouldn't go down too well in a court of law.
If this has genuinely been forgotten about, I also don't want to create an unnecessary stressful situation either! 

elsien

You could just contact the relevant council dept, explain the dates of your tenancy, that you weren't aware at the time that you were liable to be paying it but now it's on your radar you want to check what the current situation is with regards to any money owed? If they're aware it's you (for example the landlord gave them your information) there could be recovery action going on that you're not aware of. Best to sort now that after a CCJ has been obtained. 

theartfullodger

Remember not paying CT can land your u in jail.  Check TODAY!  If there has been court case, fines and fees pay it all TODAY "under protest" then dispute costs later.  

You really really don't want any more fines or fees from not paying. 

Comms69

theartfullodger said:

Remember not paying CT can land your u in jail.  Check TODAY!  If there has been court case, fines and fees pay it all TODAY "under protest" then dispute costs later.  

You really really don't want any more fines or fees from not paying. 

Tbf at this point the only extra fees will be for bailiffs removing goods.