Council tax over 11 months?

bailey_uk

A bit long winded this one, but a friend has moved into his girlfriends family house.

Its just them two that live there.
They pay council tax to the mother, who owns it.
Its band D and the mother suggested it was £210 a month so thats what they have been paying her.
When it came to February, I told my friend that he shouldn't have to send her the CT money as Feb and March are usually free.
She insisted that it was over 11 so they still sent her the money.

I think this cannot be right as for that parish and band, it was £2018 for the year.

I guess my question is, how can the tenants get proof in black and white what the payment structure and monthly amount is? The new CT bill will of arrived at the house at some point but not addressed to them so not had anything to look at.

This situation has come to light even more so when I told him to ask the mother for £150 when it arrives in her account!

MalMonroe

"how can the tenants get proof in black and white what the payment structure and monthly amount is? The new CT bill will of have arrived at the house at some point but not addressed to them so not had anything to look at."

Tenants should always have a rental agreement, even with family, so they do have something to look at. The girlfriend's mother should also be giving them receipts for all payments they make and they should also be keeping their own records.

The figures you have quoted don't add up - whichever way they are divided - and they appear to be paying more than they should.

I guess if the mother's taking their money and then paying council tax, then she can take payments as she thinks fit. It wouldn't work for me. 

When you pay council tax yourself, you can choose how to pay. Either an annual lump sum, over 10 months or over 12 months (you just have to ask the council about the last one).

She seems like a bit of a mean mother to me but there you go. Can't all be soft, like me.

What surprises me though is that your friend has spoken to you about this issue when it's really something for him and his girlfriend to discuss. It is a private matter. If he were my partner I'd be really aggrieved that he'd been talking in such a way behind my back.

Because, at the end of the day, sorry to say this but it really is nothing to do with you. I think you're better off staying out of it altogether and letting them sort things out for themselves. If your friend tries telling you this kind of thing in the future you could say that he needs to discuss it with his girlfriend and not you. And don't be telling strangers on an online forum. . . .

Spendless

I've never heard of it being paid over 11 months. It's usually either 10 or 12. Mine changed to the latter some years ago, I never requested it to happen, though I'm aware most councils stick to 10 unless the person asks to change it. 

molerat

If the mother is not living there they should have registered themselves for council tax.  If for some reason it does not get paid they are the ones that will be liable.

lincroft1710

molerat said:

If the mother is not living there they should have registered themselves for council tax.  If for some reason it does not get paid they are the ones that will be liable.

Exactly this, the tenants themselves are responsible for the CT and should be paying it directly to the council, not via the mother.


Note to OP: Feb and March are not "free", this is a misconception. By paying over 10 months the monthly payment will be higher for each month, than by paying over 12 months. Also depending when the tenants moved in, this can affect the monthly payment if paid over 10 months.

fatbelly

As above.

There is a hierarchy of liabilities:

1. A resident owner-occupier who owns either the leasehold or freehold of all or part of the property.
2. A resident tenant.
3. A resident who lives in the property and who is a licensee - this means that they’re not a tenant, but have permission to stay there.
4. Any resident living in the property, for example, a squatter.
5. An owner of the property where no one is resident.

So mum is at level 5 but your friends are at level 3 - they should declare this to the council and pay council tax direct

bailey_uk

MalMonroe said:

"how can the tenants get proof in black and white what the payment structure and monthly amount is? The new CT bill will of have arrived at the house at some point but not addressed to them so not had anything to look at."

Tenants should always have a rental agreement, even with family, so they do have something to look at. The girlfriend's mother should also be giving them receipts for all payments they make and they should also be keeping their own records.

The figures you have quoted don't add up - whichever way they are divided - and they appear to be paying more than they should.

I guess if the mother's taking their money and then paying council tax, then she can take payments as she thinks fit. It wouldn't work for me. 

When you pay council tax yourself, you can choose how to pay. Either an annual lump sum, over 10 months or over 12 months (you just have to ask the council about the last one).

She seems like a bit of a mean mother to me but there you go. Can't all be soft, like me.

What surprises me though is that your friend has spoken to you about this issue when it's really something for him and his girlfriend to discuss. It is a private matter. If he were my partner I'd be really aggrieved that he'd been talking in such a way behind my back.

Because, at the end of the day, sorry to say this but it really is nothing to do with you. I think you're better off staying out of it altogether and letting them sort things out for themselves. If your friend tries telling you this kind of thing in the future you could say that he needs to discuss it with his girlfriend and not you. And don't be telling strangers on an online forum. . . .

I think the bottom line is that yes she is a mean mother, and some people like my friend are not aware they are getting done over!

All i am trying to do is nudge him to get things out in the open, and he was suggesting he would be more comfortable with the black and white proof before mentioning it.

penners324

Get him to approach the council directly.