My girlfriend has been penalised for council tax and her flat mates are refusing to pay

Martin_Man · 29 Jul 2011 at 19:46

Hey people i'm looking to see if my girlfriend can take legal action against 3 other flat mates from her old house who hasn't payed there half of the council tax?

Deadbeat · 29 Jul 2011 at 19:49

Burn their house down

Dmack · 29 Jul 2011 at 19:50

hmm tricky one

Jokester · 29 Jul 2011 at 19:51

Depends entirely on what contract she had with them.

Martin_Man · 29 Jul 2011 at 19:52

Jokester said:
Depends entirely on what contract she had with them.

I know that her tax was band E, is this what you mean?

Dmack · 29 Jul 2011 at 19:55

should be up to the council to do this, should have never put it in her name

Biohazard · 29 Jul 2011 at 19:58

Martin_Man said:
I know that her tax was band E, is this what you mean?

No I think he means what the arrangment was between her and the flatmates.

Jokester · 29 Jul 2011 at 19:59

Martin_Man said:
I know that her tax was band E, is this what you mean?

No, if the council had her down as being responsible for paying the tax, then she should have had some sort of agreement with the other flatmates to pay their share.

If she didn't then it's only down to the good nature of the others if they pay up, because ultimately she is legally responsible to pay the full amount.

SpeedFreak · 29 Jul 2011 at 20:00

I may be wrong but wholly and severally liable springs to mind.

Martin_Man · 29 Jul 2011 at 20:01

There was no arrangement as such, they used to pay as one 'lump sum' when it was due previously but as they've now moved onto different properties they only have my girlfriend's new contact details so everything is being passed over to her even though all 4 names were stated on the bill.

Vonhelmet · 29 Jul 2011 at 20:02

SpeedFreak said:
I may be wrong but wholly and severally liable springs to mind.

It does.

It's a shame Britboy has been banned - he could have helped.

Jokester · 29 Jul 2011 at 20:04

Martin_Man said:
even though all 4 names were stated on the bill.

In that case, if they don't pay willingly, might be a case of taking them to the small claims court. See CAB to be honest.

PhillyDee · 29 Jul 2011 at 20:05

Martin_Man said:
There was no arrangement as such, they used to pay as one 'lump sum' when it was due previously but as they've now moved onto different properties they only have my girlfriend's new contact details so everything is being passed over to her even though all 4 names were stated on the bill.

I had this exact problem quite a few years ago, some house mates decided that since I wasn't local, to give them my details only for the council tax, despite it being in all 4 names. Guildford council tried to get the full amount off me. I went through CAB and they sorted it out so I only had to pay 1/4 of the amount due. Despite the fact that the person who left first, absconded with the cash meant for the month or 2. (Sorry, ALLEGEDLY, since everything was paid up and (s)he used to collect and pay it).