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Hi,
I own a house that I rented out to a lady who was getting housing benefit with the rent being paid directly from the council into my bank. Around late Jan 2011/early Feb I noticed that a payment hadn't been made. After a few days (in case it was just late) I phoned the council to be informed that the lady had moved out in late Nov 2010. This was the first I knew of it as the tenant hadn't informed me and the council had been paying the rent as normal until late Jan / early Feb.
As such I inspected the property, finding considerable damage due to a burst water pipe in the loft which had caused a lot of damage including leaving the kitchen ceiling on the kitchen floor.
As such I got the repairs done asap and moved a new tenant in, almost immediately, even whilst a lot of the work was going on.
Fastforward to the 7th June 2012 and I received a letter through the door from a bailiff claiming I owed Council Tax for the property for the period where it was unoccupied. Upon speaking to a lady at the council (June 8th 2012) I was told I couldn't get a reduction of the council tax during that period as I had not informed them prior to the property being empty. I explained that I hadn't known the property was empty for most of the time otherwise I would have applied for this. The lady basically suggested that I pay the bailiffs fully and then try to apply for a reduction but that it was basically out of their hands now it was with the bailiffs.
This morning (19th June) I had a visit from the bailiff. I didn't give my name but explained the situation. After he basically ignored what I was saying he tried to come in, I refused him entry and shut the door on him. A few minutes later he put a Notice of Seizure of Goods note through the letterbox adding on additional fees of £42.50 Attendance to Levy Fees, £31 Levy Fee and £24.50 Redemption of Goods Fee. He also included an inventory consisting of my car and my partner's car. He has also crossed out the removed bit on the note at the bottom - effectively stating 'I hereby confirm that this inventory is an accurate description of the items which have been seized by Bristow & Sutor and of their condition at the time of the seizure.'
There is a space for it to be signed, presumably by me, but it is unsigned. The cars are still on the drive.
I am just looking for a bit of advice as to what they can do - can they actually seize/remove the cars. The original debt (to which I am in dispute with the council and have completed forms but have had no reply) was £158 but now stands at £346.50. I have also emailed a form to a council tax tribunal place today.
Whilst the council tax amount is in dispute (and I am happy to go to court about that) I basically want there to be no risk of trouble from the bailiffs.
In addition I had received no letters from the council prior to the bailiffs showing up. When I spoke to the council on June 8th 2012 she had said that they couldn't find my address (this despite them having my address due to me paying them back for the housing benefit that they had overpaid). There were also no letters delivered to the rented house either (for which the 'debt' relates)
Thanks, Robert
I own a house that I rented out to a lady who was getting housing benefit with the rent being paid directly from the council into my bank. Around late Jan 2011/early Feb I noticed that a payment hadn't been made. After a few days (in case it was just late) I phoned the council to be informed that the lady had moved out in late Nov 2010. This was the first I knew of it as the tenant hadn't informed me and the council had been paying the rent as normal until late Jan / early Feb.
As such I inspected the property, finding considerable damage due to a burst water pipe in the loft which had caused a lot of damage including leaving the kitchen ceiling on the kitchen floor.
As such I got the repairs done asap and moved a new tenant in, almost immediately, even whilst a lot of the work was going on.
Fastforward to the 7th June 2012 and I received a letter through the door from a bailiff claiming I owed Council Tax for the property for the period where it was unoccupied. Upon speaking to a lady at the council (June 8th 2012) I was told I couldn't get a reduction of the council tax during that period as I had not informed them prior to the property being empty. I explained that I hadn't known the property was empty for most of the time otherwise I would have applied for this. The lady basically suggested that I pay the bailiffs fully and then try to apply for a reduction but that it was basically out of their hands now it was with the bailiffs.
This morning (19th June) I had a visit from the bailiff. I didn't give my name but explained the situation. After he basically ignored what I was saying he tried to come in, I refused him entry and shut the door on him. A few minutes later he put a Notice of Seizure of Goods note through the letterbox adding on additional fees of £42.50 Attendance to Levy Fees, £31 Levy Fee and £24.50 Redemption of Goods Fee. He also included an inventory consisting of my car and my partner's car. He has also crossed out the removed bit on the note at the bottom - effectively stating 'I hereby confirm that this inventory is an accurate description of the items which have been seized by Bristow & Sutor and of their condition at the time of the seizure.'
There is a space for it to be signed, presumably by me, but it is unsigned. The cars are still on the drive.
I am just looking for a bit of advice as to what they can do - can they actually seize/remove the cars. The original debt (to which I am in dispute with the council and have completed forms but have had no reply) was £158 but now stands at £346.50. I have also emailed a form to a council tax tribunal place today.
Whilst the council tax amount is in dispute (and I am happy to go to court about that) I basically want there to be no risk of trouble from the bailiffs.
In addition I had received no letters from the council prior to the bailiffs showing up. When I spoke to the council on June 8th 2012 she had said that they couldn't find my address (this despite them having my address due to me paying them back for the housing benefit that they had overpaid). There were also no letters delivered to the rented house either (for which the 'debt' relates)
Thanks, Robert
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