Money Moral Dilemma: Should I tell the previous owner of my home he's due a council tax refund?

Voyager2002

No, don't tell him. The council needs the money far more than he does.

CarolynCh

When we get our band reduced, letters addressed to lots of the previous owners (except the one we bought from) arrived which we assumed were advising them that they were due a repayment. As we had no knowledge of these people or their current addresses we just sent them back "return to sender". I've always thought it was a shame that they probably didn't get their refund. In the OP's case, I would hope that they would forward any mail but it's not their responsibility to advise the previous owner.

Ed264

He left you £2,000 out of pocket. Don't say a word to him about the £8,000.  

eao

Yes, tell him and remind him of his obligation to you.  It is the right thing,.

CapeTown

Have you got the promises in writing.  If not you haven't really got a leg to stand on. However, I would write him a note reminding him of these promises and informing him of the council tax refund. If as other posters say it will happen automatically that he will get refund.... and I didn't know, he may think that you are being kind by telling him and sort the promises out. 

OptimisticAbby

if if he doesn’t get his refund, then presumably the council will get to keep the money. It can then spend it on social care, libraries, waste disposal and all the other services that benefit citizens of your area. Just a thought. 

Missy15

My first thoughts were no don't tell him. However what goes around comes around. Tell him via email/ letter, and remind him he owes you £2000, and that you expect payment when the money arrives in his bank. Otherwise if it's a legally enforcible debt say you will take him to small claims court.

ABr00kes

Your conscious is already getting the better of you, or you wouldn't  have asked the question. Be the bigger person and let him know by text or email. You could even reference the broken promises. By the sound of it, you’d be lucky to get any money back, never mind a response, but your conscious will be clear. Let us know what you decide. 

RSD7a

Tell him. Even if he doesn't, life will repay you in unexpected ways. 

Groom

Perhaps just ask yourself how you would feel if the person who bought your previous house did the same, would you be happy they didn’t tell you? 

As for the promises he broke were they written or just what he agreed to orally? If written, then the people dealing with the sale should have checked they were kept, get back to them as he broke the contract.