Charged business rates, renting a domestic 2 bed flat

Sammykj1

dbks said:

Sammykj1 said:

Myself and my partner rent a 2 bed flat. Through a small local estate agent, the flat was just advertised at £525pcm. Once we signed up for the flat we were told the landlords send us the bill quarterly and we don’t organise our own energy providers. 

They also own and rent out the flat next door and commercial property below. We have just received our bills for the summer period;
the gas bill had no units ect just the dates from and to with what we feel is a very high bill for summer. 

The electric had units at 24p per unit a standing rate and CCL

when talking to the landlord he said that because the property used to be commercial we have to pay business rates. And that there isn’t any budge on this. 

Seems our bills monthly are going to be more than our rent and don’t know how we can get charged business rate as domestic tenants? 

Any advice will be welcomed. Thanks 

My advice would also be to get out as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, you appear to have a rogue landlord, who has converted commercial premesis to part residential, whilst having no care for the safety of those residential tenants. If you do not have free access to the isolation value of the gas supply to your property (that is located by the meter) then you are unsafe.

You may wish to seek independant legal advice over the matter you say you entered a contract (a tenancy agreement) without being made aware of further additional charges you then become by dint reponsible for, especially when you say those additional charges will cost more than than the cost of the main contract.

What is the commercial property below these 2 residential flats currently being used for? e.g. type of industry.
What is it's usual operating hours?

The property below is a salon, open 9-5 Monday to Sunday. We are registered with the council as we pay council tax monthly. 

Thank you for the advice 

Sammykj1

macman said:

If the whole property is classified for business rates, then what is the situation re Council Tax? 
You may find that the LL has not registered your flat for CT. If so, and the LA find out, then, as occupier, you will be liable for all CT due backdated to the start of your tenancy. 
If it's sub-metered, then you are entitled to a proper bill that shows the unit rate, s/c, and the units used.

Thank you for the advice, we do pay council tax monthly.
The water and electric are definitely sub metered, but I believe he gets one bill, and decides the usage himself, looking at our individual meters but I can’t be sure on that. 

CIS

Sammykj1 said:

macman said:

If the whole property is classified for business rates, then what is the situation re Council Tax? 
You may find that the LL has not registered your flat for CT. If so, and the LA find out, then, as occupier, you will be liable for all CT due backdated to the start of your tenancy. 
If it's sub-metered, then you are entitled to a proper bill that shows the unit rate, s/c, and the units used.

Thank you for the advice, we do pay council tax monthly.
The water and electric are definitely sub metered, but I believe he gets one bill, and decides the usage himself, looking at our individual meters but I can’t be sure on that. 

Who are you paying council tax to ?