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Landlord Fraud?

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Ma79rie | 17:23 Tue 08th Mar 2016 | Law
6 Answers
Since renting the property I live in I have paid rent council tax and water to my landlord.
Recently I received a letter from the agent which acknowledges this but asks that from next month I pay council tax direct to tge council. I have discovered the property I live in is not registered for council tax and was "delisted" 2 years before my tenancy began. I did find the property listed under business rates and that the landlord had received 100% small business relief since 2010. I suspect that should I report him I will be given my notice. I have also not been notified (if it is a requirement) of where my tenancy deposit is lodged.
Altogether a mess.
Could anyone suggest what I do now?
Marie
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1) pay council tax to the council in future
2) retain papers about having already paid the CT
I imagine you have the contract demand and receipts from the agent
wait
and when the mega demand comes in - allege that the bill has already been paid under your lease and to the agent ....
3) ask the agent where your deposit is

it is a mess and not one you can sort out
pay the amounts you are asked keep records and wait



As PP has said, simply asking where your deposit is held might be all that's required in respect of that problem. (The landlord should have told you but genuine oversights do occur):
https://www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection/information-landlords-must-give-tenants

Unless you live in a 'house in multiple occupation' (where you share facilities, such as a kitchen or bathroom, with others), it's always your responsibility to pay Council Tax. The landlord is only required to pay Council Tax for HMOs.
http://www.landlords.org.uk/news-campaigns/news/council-tax

So you need to start by working out who should have been paying (and who remains responsible for paying) Council Tax to the local authority.
I fear it will turn out that the lease contract says pay the landlord
and he will be found to have pocketed it .....
wait and see
pity we never get feedback
some of these questions are quite interesting
Question Author
Thank you both for your replys.
I have had a meeting with the agent who was 'aghast' at the situation. I have the letter from the agent asking that I tell the local authority that I moved into the property on 1st March 2016. The agent is the same which drew up my tenancy agreement 10 years ago.
I also met my landlord who said if I am not comfortable with saying this to the local authority then he would do it or get the agent to email it.
I have now received a form from local authority asking when I moved in.
Perhaps my completing this will result in my tenancy being terminated? Also my deposit paid in 2016 has not been placed in any scheme.
Question Author
My apology for misleading typos! My tenancy began in 2006 . . Not 2016 as I typed.

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Landlord Fraud?

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