Council tax - not the owner but on bill

ReeceSmillie

Hi,
I use to have a joint ownership of a house with one person.
Both names were on council tax. I sold my share about 3 years ago but the guy I owned the house with never took my name off the bill.

The guy died a few month back, and the parents of the guy took his name off the bill and only mine is on there, the parents are telling me I have to pay the council tax bill.

When I ring the council up... Do I have to prove I haven't lived there, if so, how? I honestly never knew he didn't take me off the council bill. I've not lived there in years and the parents are telling me to pay it as I'm on the bill, they've redirected the post to my new house.

Thank you in advance 

DoctorStrange

If you don't live there and don't own it, I can't see how you could be responsible for any Council Tax?

Are you paying CT where you're currently living? That would be my starting point I think

Keep_pedalling

Assuming his parents are administering his estate then they should be able to obtain a 100% discount due to the death of the sole owner.

p00hsticks

Who (if anyone) is actually living in the property at the moment ? If the only occupant was the person who is now deceased, and assuming the property is in England, then as Keep-Pedalling says the people administering the estate should be asking for a Class F council tax exemption whcih is available fro, the date of death until six months after probate is obtained or when the property is sold or occupied,  whichever is first.

p00hsticks

ReeceSmillie said:

When I ring the council up... Do I have to prove I haven't lived there, if so, how? I honestly never knew he didn't take me off the council bill.

For the record I suspect it would have been down to you, not him,  to get yourself removed from the bill (and off the electoral roll at the address) at the time you originally moved out / sold the property. Are you paying council tax and on an electoral roll elsewhere now ? That would probably be as good an indication as any that you are no longer living in the property.....

CIS

ReeceSmillie said:

Hi,
I use to have a joint ownership of a house with one person.
Both names were on council tax. I sold my share about 3 years ago but the guy I owned the house with never took my name off the bill.

The guy died a few month back, and the parents of the guy took his name off the bill and only mine is on there, the parents are telling me I have to pay the council tax bill.

When I ring the council up... Do I have to prove I haven't lived there, if so, how? I honestly never knew he didn't take me off the council bill. I've not lived there in years and the parents are telling me to pay it as I'm on the bill, they've redirected the post to my new house.

Thank you in advance 

Give the council a call and tell them you no longer own the property. Liability does not fall on to you.

There is, surprisingly, no legal obligation in respect of updating liability, but it can be dealt with relatively easily.