council tax

[jaycee401]

a friends daughter and her boyfriend moved into a rented flat in around aug 08 til july 09, it was through somebody my friend knew so there was no tenancy agreement. The flat is above a car repair garage. They paid £100 per week in rent to the landlord and £x per week to the guy who runs the garage for the electric/gas/water. The landlord said he would continue to pay the council tax. Im not sure if the landlord is the actual owner of the garage. Now my friends daughter and bf have received a council tax bill, will they be liable for this.

[rachael88]

council tax is high now i pay 160 a month moveing soon tho
is the garage on th house
the landlord shouldnt pay the tax for the garage it should be the renters

[sara3]

this is a bit of a grey area. usually the owner is liable for council tax unless there is an agreement that says otherwise. the local authority will go after the owner initially for the arrears, but if the owner has named the "tenants" as being responsible the council would have to look into that.

[jaycee401]

thanks, i think the landlord hs given their names, but there is no contract and the landlard has not declared his rental income as it was a private agreement.

[sara3]

to be honest, they'd have done better getting a tenancy agreement. it would serve to protect them in some situations, although granted.. probably not this one.

[jaycee401]

hi sara apparently they kept asking for an agreement, but he didnt want to give them one, so thats why they eventually moved out, so do you think its more likley they will have to pay it.

[sara3]

I honestly don't know, but if I were in their situation I would state the facts in writing and appeal any official decision they make.

[jaycee401]

thanks sara