Money Moral Dilemma: Should I tell the previous owner of my home he's due a council tax refund?
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MSE_Kelvin
Posts: 345 MSE Staff
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...
I recently bought a house, and during the sale process the previous owner made various promises he didn't keep, leaving me around £2,000 out of pocket. After moving in, I followed Martin's guide on challenging your council tax band, and was successful, so I'll save £550 a year. This means the previous owner's likely owed around £8,000 as he'd been paying the wrong rate for years. While it'll be his with one phone call, he probably won't know about it unless I tell him. I've no goodwill towards him because of the broken promises... should I let him know anyway?
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Comments
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You know you should. Even if he's a complete and utter cad."Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.”1
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Haven't we had this MMD before?
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Slinky said:Haven't we had this MMD before?If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales2
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You could give him an opportunity to pay up on the promises made c£2k. If he ignores you that's the end of contact. If he stumps up then you could tell him about the rebate.7
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I'd agree with the give him one more opportunity to pay you if it's something that he does owe money wise. If it's things he didn't do/leave and you can't do anything about them now, then no
He should have been savvy enough himself, his problem.3 -
Doesn’t matter the council will automatically revise the banding for all relevant present and past occupiers.2
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Absolutely not. Not your circus not your monkeys8
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I would contact him and tell him if he gives you 2k you will tell him how to earn 8k5
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Email him and tell him you can tell him how to save himself about £8,000 as long as he gives you the £2,000 you're out of pocket due to his broken promise. Get his reply in writing (hence the email) so you can prove it if he agrees, and say you'll take him to court if he fails.
2 -
No. If there was any goodwill I’d have said yes, but as there isn’t, you don’t owe him anything. I’d still try to recoup your £2K though.6
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