Council Tax Liability

[legalquestaa]

My tenancy agreement started in Feb 23. Since then I (and I believe my landlord) have made several attempts to reach out to the Council to say I should be paying council tax. All to no avail. I believe this is because the property has never been valued for council tax (it doesn't appear on the council tax band searches online). I think my landlord has asked for it to be valued, but still to no avail. I should add it is not a new house. The council even replied to me in May 23 saying I am not liable for council tax because of their records about the property (which are incorrect).

Neither the council nor my landlord - despite renting the property for 18 months - have been able to let me know what my council tax band will be. Now I am moving out of the property my landlord has asked me to sign a form saying I am liable for council tax for when I was living there.

The question is – if and when the property is finally valued - am I legally liable for council tax dating back to Feb 23? Thank you.

[JustAThought]

Bind yourself not and sign no such document!

Didn't your landlord know about this little tax query before you arrived on the scene??? What does your tenancy agreement say about council tax? If you agreed to pay then you don't really have to sign another document, surely...

Liability will lie where it lies in due course once the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) puts a property into the valuation lists.

Valuation and a band is then applied.

The council cannot charge (rate) or make a party liable for council tax unless the property has been assessed and added to the valuation list by the VOA.

Am a lay person... the Council Tax department knows more about local taxation and the rules.