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Getting rid of Buy-to-Lets

Is there any way that we can rid ourselves of two buy-to-lets of which control and management were put in the hands of a Bankruptcy Trustee but the Building Society did not actually repossess and sell the properties so we are still named on the Land Registry.

A sole tenant ( who was found and installed and managed by the Trustee ) has left owing Council Tax to Bristol Council. Bristol Council have given our name and address to a Debt Collector who have sent a Notice of Recovery letter to us for our own sheltered accommodation council flat that we rent from a different council. . We have managed to obtain 14 day delay from Bristol Council by sending to Bristol Council copies of our own Council Tax statements and Rent Statements of where we live )
I can see this happening every time a tenant leaves a debt which they themselves have incurred.
We are discharged from the bankruptcy
Is there any way that we can get rid of the properties once and for all ?
Grateful for advice. Thank you.

Comments

  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You are not liable for a tenants council tax charge as owner landlords except in certain specific cases. Have they confirmed why they are holding you liable for a period where there was a tenant ?.

    You are in a bit of a bind between tenancies as you cannot receive a Class L exemption as the property was not repossessed.



    It is very unlikely to be a debt collector for council tax, in most cases a council will use an enforcement agent under a liability to collect arrears.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • Frank38
    Frank38 Posts: 22 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 10 Posts
    Dear CIS
    Just to say thank you. Bristol Council have now put it in writing that we are not liable for the tenants C Tax. When the Court gave management of the property to the Trustee the Trustee did not tell Bristol Council, so the Council referred to the Property Register to find the legal owner, hence us. Nor did the Trustee start a new Tenancy Agreement with the tenant so we could not provide written evidence of the tenancy. In the end we asked the Trustee to send an extract of their Bank Statements showing the tenant had been paying the rent. Best Regards Frank.
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