[Jakeh1969]

I moved out of my flat in February 2007 and into my girlfriends house but continued to pay council tax until August 2007 where I informed them that I had moved into another council area and was now registered for council tax at my girlfriends house. They gave me a £300 refund.

The flat has been on the market since November of last year and because of the credit crunch it didn't sell so I made the decision to rent it and a couple moved in at the start of September.

I've now been sent two council tax bills to my new address, one is for £800 and is the council tax due between 01/08/2007 and 31/03/2008 and the other is for £522 for the period 01/04/2008 to 31/08/2008.

Am I liable for the £1322 despite no longer living in the flat? Am I legally liable to pay two lots of council tax? It's not as if I've been evading council tax during that time as I'm registered with a different council. What's the best way to argue this with the council?

Thanks

[DJT75]

Have the people you've rented to been paying council tax whilst living in your property?

[Counter]

I'm assuming you mean that it has been rented since the start of September 2008.

That being so, you are liable for the council tax as you own the property, whether you live and pay elsewhere, remember you still have to pay on second homes, which is essentially your situation.

However, if you have not already taken it, you are entitled to a single persons 25% discount, ironically this will not apply if you have moved out and the house is vacant !! So don't mention this!

Also you can get up to 6 months vacancy relief which should mitigate most of the 07/08 bill.

Trafford Borough council tried to tell me that the 6 month tax free period was on a per property basis and that it had been previously used up, this is not the case.

Whatever the council try to tell you, this is allowable on a per ownership / per property basis. So each owner of a property can claim up to six months vacancy relief.

In order to best gain from this use the 25% discount till 29/02/08 and then the vacancy relief from 1/03/08 to 31/08/08

The couple now renting are now liable for the council tax, as the occupiers of the property.

Hope this helps a little.

G

[Bat-man]

But I rent an apartment and I am liable for Council tax.