Statutory demand

[tolson7]

Hello all, I have received a statutory demand from Barnsley council that relates to a industrial unit i rented back in 2011/2012, i was a sole trader who was a victim of fraud which put us out of business, i have rent owing on the unit totaling £5083.23 and this demand has come out of the blue with no other warning, one thing to mention was that i never signed a tenancy agreement with the council (landlord) and when i pointed this out back in 2012 i was told to clean and paint the unit and hand the keys back asap, also the demand was sent to my previous address and if it wasnt for redirected mail i would not have known about it at all, it also has my old address on the demand
Can anyone help in any way? i didnt really want to call one of the many companies online that advertise that they can get it sorted with no problems as i have read some horror stories about them
Many Thanks

[EXC]

Re: Statutory demand

When did you actually receive the SD?

Was this the amount you owed at the point that you handed back the keys?

Is the SD for £5083. 23?

Do you own your own property?

[tolson7]

Re: Statutory demand

Hi,
I received the sd last Saturday and it was dated the 17th
Yes the amount is what was owed on the day I handed the keys back and the total amount is £5083.23

[tolson7]

Re: Statutory demand

Sorry I don't own the property it was rented from the council

[EXC]

Re: Statutory demand

Hi,
I received the sd last Saturday and it was dated the 17th

Regardless of the date of the SD you have the 18 days to respond from the date of service which will be when you received it on (last?) Saturday.

When did you move from the old address?

[Nibbler]

Re: Statutory demand

I think EXC meant do you have a house or property with equity?

While some councils do petition for bankruptcy regardless, in general it's more likely if you have property that could be sold by the official receiver or trustee in bankruptcy. It usually requires reasonably significant assets to exist before a creditor would see any money back from making you bankrupt, as the OR/trustee etc fees swallow up many £1,00s first.

[tolson7]

Re: Statutory demand

We moved from our old address back in November, should I contact the council direct?

[EXC]

Re: Statutory demand

Yes contact the council first.

If you hadn't had anything from them about the debt prior to November they really shouldn't have gone straight for a statutory demand.

[david moore]

Re: Statutory demand

I think, you should contact to the attorney