Home left to me and council tax

wilkko73

I'm resident in a home that's owned by my late mother that has just passed I've lived there all of my life and need to do probate etc.The home is bequeathed to me in her will. Has anyone had this same situation as I'm wondering how council tax will work as I'm not the official owner yet.obviously I'm happy to pay council tax but I'm wondering if I can have my name on the bill if I'm not the home owner yet? many thanks

anniecave

I'm sorry to hear of your loss.  Was the bill previously in joint names?  Are there any other occupiers, or was it just you and your mum?  So are you now the sole occupier? 

wilkko73

anniecave said:

I'm sorry to hear of your loss.  Was the bill previously in joint names?  Are there any other occupiers, or was it just you and your mum?  So are you now the sole occupier? 

Hi,the bill is in mum's name as it's her home. I've always lived here it's been my only home,I'm the only person that lives here now.Mum only died yesterday after after a long illness and I was her carer for 10 years

elsien

Council tax bill doesn’t have to be in the homeowner’s name because otherwise landlords would be paying the bills for their tenants. 

Contact the council, let them know you are now the sole occupier and don’t forget the 25% single person discount.
You should probably also take readings for utilities as well to be clear on what comes from your mum’s estate before you take over the bill yourself. 

wilkko73

Thank you,I shall ring ring them,I feel sick with worry about all of this .I've got a funeral to arrange too.I saw the most awful things as a carer too graphic to mention on here.My mum had been in a hospital bed for 8 years at home in the lounge,my bed was just 10ft away from hers

FlorayG

You are a tenant of the estate until the estate is settled and as such responsible for council tax, just let them know, it's a simple process, and claim your single person discount. You don't have to do that today, it can be backdated when you do tell them

elsien

Just concentrate on getting the funeral sorted. It was very little, if anything, that can’t wait.

Are you aware of the Tell us Once service?

Keep_pedalling

FlorayG said:

You are a tenant of the estate until the estate is settled and as such responsible for council tax, just let them know, it's a simple process, and claim your single person discount. You don't have to do that today, it can be backdated when you do tell them

That is not correct. If the house was unoccupied it would be exempt from CT up to the time probate wasn’t obtained and for 6 months after, however as the house is still occupied it is not and it is the occupant who is responsible for paying it rather than the estate. Even if the estate was responsible the OP appears to be the administrator so it would still be their responsibility.

The OP is the sole occupant as well as getting the CT in there they should be able to get the amount reduced with the sole occupant discount, so it is in their best interest to contact the LA sooner rather than later. 

wilkko73

Thank you folks,it's been a terrible time.I was mum's carer for 10 years,She was in a hospital bed in the lounge for all of those years,my bed was in the lounge too for all of those years so I didn't ever escape any of the pressure. I've seen so many traumatic things in the last 2 months.

Keep_pedalling

wilkko73 said:

I'm resident in a home that's owned by my late mother that has just passed I've lived there all of my life and need to do probate etc.The home is bequeathed to me in her will. Has anyone had this same situation as I'm wondering how council tax will work as I'm not the official owner yet.obviously I'm happy to pay council tax but I'm wondering if I can have my name on the bill if I'm not the home owner yet? many thanks

If you need any help or advice with anything to do with winding up the estate you will find lots of help over on the deaths, funerals and probate board.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/deaths-funerals-probate

wilkko73

Keep_pedalling said:

wilkko73 said:

I'm resident in a home that's owned by my late mother that has just passed I've lived there all of my life and need to do probate etc.The home is bequeathed to me in her will. Has anyone had this same situation as I'm wondering how council tax will work as I'm not the official owner yet.obviously I'm happy to pay council tax but I'm wondering if I can have my name on the bill if I'm not the home owner yet? many thanks

If you need any help or advice with anything to do with winding up the estate you will find lots of help over on the deaths, funerals and probate board.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/deaths-funerals-probate

Thank you,I will be spending a lot of time on those boards soon