Moving House and Council Tax

Chooru

Hi there,

I am moving house later this month. My tenancy will run out on 22nd December, however, I am moving house on 20th November, so leaving my tenancy before the proper end date. My local authority is saying that I need to pay full council tax on both properties until 22nd December, as that is when my tenancy ends, even though I'm moving out early. Does this sound right?

Both properties are in the same local authority. It just sounds... wrong. I'd literally be paying double?

Thanks in advance.

olgadapolga

Chooru said:

Hi there,

I am moving house later this month. My tenancy will run out on 22nd December, however, I am moving house on 20th November, so leaving my tenancy before the proper end date. My local authority is saying that I need to pay full council tax on both properties until 22nd December, as that is when my tenancy ends, even though I'm moving out early. Does this sound right?

Both properties are in the same local authority. It just sounds... wrong. I'd literally be paying double?

Thanks in advance.

Yep, that's correct. I purchased a house in July one year but still had my rental until August. Paid two lots of council tax, as I expected to.

Jeremy535897

The question is not straightforward. A comment from a rental forum:

"The council is required by law to charge the person who has a legal interest in the property at midnight at the end of the day. On the day the tenant vacates, that is the landlord, UNLESS the tenant leaves without either the agreement of the LL or giving valid notice that ended on that day, AND the tenant has an interest of at least 6 months.

However, the tenancy agreement may provide for reclaiming the CT from the tenant up to the time the tenancy is ended, if the tenant vacates early."
From https://forums.landlordzone.co.uk/forum/residential-letting-questions/1096016-council-tax-and-tenant-leaving-early

In your case, the issue may be that you did not give sufficient notice or get the landlord's agreement? It may be worth querying it with the council. Whether the property was let furnished or unfurnished may also have an impact.