Council tax and energy bills liability

hm2be

I have a friend who inherited a property that had tenants in it. The tenants left leaving unpaid bills and council tax and no forwarding address. My friend has contacted the council tax dept who are asking for copy of tenancy to prove that the tenants are liable for the debt. The managing agent was very unhelpful and has not sent tenancy agreement to look at and not aanswering call (sounds a bit of a dodgy guy to me). It is my understanding that tenants are always responsible for council tax unless the property is a multiple occupancy proeprty or empty unless the tenancy agreement specifically states otherwise. If the tenant had signed their name to the bill doesnt that suggest liability anyway? Can someone please confirm this for me. Also the gas and electric company were very helpful when he explained but the water board also wants a letter of explanation.
He has been asked ot write a letter to the council to explain the situation and Im not sure they are just tryng to track him down to make him pay for the arrears.

Doozergirl

I'd have told them I was the new owner (true) and that the previous owner and their tenants' debts are nothing to do with me.

But as he's put himself in that position he might as well send the letter.

But the debts are absolutely not his responsibility, full stop So don't worry about their motives. People like that will tell you straight anyway. They don't pretend.

clutton_2

if the council has written to thim and the property is now empty - then he is now liable to pay the tax - but can claim empty property rebate which is 100% rebate for 6 months with most councils.

if he can prove the property was tenanted before he inherited it - then he is not liable for that period.

Debt_Free_Chick

He needs to prove that tenants occupied the property for the period concerned. The reason being that - if no proof had to be provided - all sorts of unscrupulous people would simply claim that the bills were not theirs as "we had let the property".

hm2be

Thanks. How can he prove that the tenants were in there?

SquatNow

He only has to prove what date he became responsible/liable for the property... date of transfer of title.

Photocopies of the relevant docs with a covering letting to council/water board will do the job, they arn't being funny, they just need OP to put something in writing.

Water Board / Council may have claims against the OPs fathers estate though so first sort out the letter showing the OP isn't liable then contact solicitor handling the estate with the bills.

hm2be

Thanks. I will pass on the information.