confused1
13-12-2011, 10:06 AM
Hi guys, I'm new here and could really do with some advice.
I bought my first home earlier this year :(rofl): there were 2 tennants in it at the time. They were both international post grad students and due to them finishing their course a couple of months after the sale went through, I let them stay.
After they moved out I discovered structural difficulties with the property, so was not able to move in myself. It didn't even occur to me to get in contact with council tax office, I thought they'd write me a letter addressed "to the occupant" and ask me to fill in my details.
Unfortunatly the students didn't contact CTO either, so CTO began writing letters to the ex-tennants (which I was forwarding) demanding payment as they had finished their courses and were no longer exempt.
I only realized what was going on when a letter arrived addressed to them, with the words "summons for non-payment" visable through the envalope!
I called the local CTO this morning and explained when the tenants moved out. The man on the phone took my name and address and asked me to call back when I actually move into the property. I asked him if that was everything I needed to do, and he said "yes".
Then I did a quick google search, and am now really worried. I only check the mail at the property every week, so don't know how old the summons are. Could I be held liable for court costs because I didn't update the counsel tax office?
I'm not worried about the actual counsel tax itself (I will pay as/when they ask me), but am very worried about court fees and reposession fees on top! (I know how quickly these can spiral!)
Any advice? >.<
I bought my first home earlier this year :(rofl): there were 2 tennants in it at the time. They were both international post grad students and due to them finishing their course a couple of months after the sale went through, I let them stay.
After they moved out I discovered structural difficulties with the property, so was not able to move in myself. It didn't even occur to me to get in contact with council tax office, I thought they'd write me a letter addressed "to the occupant" and ask me to fill in my details.
Unfortunatly the students didn't contact CTO either, so CTO began writing letters to the ex-tennants (which I was forwarding) demanding payment as they had finished their courses and were no longer exempt.
I only realized what was going on when a letter arrived addressed to them, with the words "summons for non-payment" visable through the envalope!
I called the local CTO this morning and explained when the tenants moved out. The man on the phone took my name and address and asked me to call back when I actually move into the property. I asked him if that was everything I needed to do, and he said "yes".
Then I did a quick google search, and am now really worried. I only check the mail at the property every week, so don't know how old the summons are. Could I be held liable for court costs because I didn't update the counsel tax office?
I'm not worried about the actual counsel tax itself (I will pay as/when they ask me), but am very worried about court fees and reposession fees on top! (I know how quickly these can spiral!)
Any advice? >.<