Is council tax registration mandatory?

[Ephex]

Hello,I'm new to the forums and to the UK, so please bear with me. Also, my apologies in advance if I'm posting in the wrong section of the forum.I was offered a new job recently so me and my wife moved to London last week. We already found a house and I have a question regarding the council tax. I've read on many websites that we have to register to pay the council tax as soon as possible. The problem is that my landlord told us that we don't need to do that, that the bill would just show up and we could then pay the tax. Basically I think that he's saying that the bill will be in his name and we just need to pay him.Is this legal? Should I be worried about this? Thanks!JM--

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Is council tax registration mandatory?

Hello,I'm new to the forums and to the UK, so please bear with me. Also, my apologies in advance if I'm posting in the wrong section of the forum.I was offered a new job recently so me and my wife moved to London last week. We already found a house and I have a question regarding the council tax. I've read on many websites that we have to register to pay the council tax as soon as possible. The problem is that my landlord told us that we don't need to do that, that the bill would just show up and we could then pay the tax. Basically I think that he's saying that the bill will be in his name and we just need to pay him.Is this legal? Should I be worried about this? Thanks!JM--

Hi and welcome to LB and the UK!

In the UK, the occupier(s) of a property are usually responsible for paying the council tax, however, in some cases the owner of the property (the landlord) would be liable for the tax, for example if you were staying there just for a short time. I assume the landlord will have informed the council that he's let the property out to yourselves to avoid being liable himself, and the council will issue the bills in your name rather than his. You'd receive the bills directly from the council and you will have to make arrangements with the council to pay them, the easiest way is by direct debit. The amount of each monthly installment will be shown on your bill. Your landlord won't be involved as you are liable for the tax not him.

You may want to look at this page for reference: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/englan...ay_council_tax

The hierarchy of liability is:

1. a resident owner-occupier who owns either the leasehold or freehold of all or part of the property
2. a resident tenant
3. a resident who lives in the property and who is a licensee. This means that they are not a tenant, but have permission to stay there
4. any resident living in the property, for example, a squatter
5. an owner of the property where no one is resident.

[nemesis45]

Re: Is council tax registration mandatory?

If you are on the Electoral Roll as resident at a certain address the LA will register you for CT.

[enquirer]

Re: Is council tax registration mandatory?

The problem is that my landlord told us that we don't need to do that, that the bill would just show up and we could then pay the tax. Basically I think that he's saying that the bill will be in his name and we just need to pay him. Should I be worried about this?

Frankly, it stinks.

[nemesis45]

Re: Is council tax registration mandatory?

I would not trust anything this Landlord has to say on this, you could find yourself lumbered with a previous tenants or the Ll's debts.
Check with the Local Authority to see if there is any outstanding liability.

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Is council tax registration mandatory?

I would not trust anything this Landlord has to say on this, you could find yourself lumbered with a previous tenants or the Ll's debts.
Check with the Local Authority to see if there is any outstanding liability.

If that was the case, the could use their tenancy agreement to show the council the date they moved into the property. They also say they've just arrived in the UK so they're bound to have some proof that they were not only not living in the property, they weren't even living in the country!

[bizzybob]

Re: Is council tax registration mandatory?

If that was the case, the could use their tenancy agreement to show the council the date they moved into the property. They also say they've just arrived in the UK so they're bound to have some proof that they were not only not living in the property, they weren't even living in the country!

That would be an absolute defence as in not even in the country.

Now let me see small plot of land, caravan, would they try for council tax, or eviction as a traveller from my own land?