Council Tax Refund

[joko]

I have just discovered I have been paying council tax based on 2 people being resident in my flat - because 15-odd years ago i lived with my boyfriend.
my landlord dealt with it all.

he moved out about 15 years ago and i have been on my own ever since

-but the amount was never reassessed or changed -

i never properly told them he had gone, as i didn't know i had to, as I have claimed housing benefit on and off over that time and on those forms I stated clearly that i lived alone.

it is band A.

i intend to change it to single occupancy asap - but would i be entitled to any money back?
its £99 a month now, so i have been paying an extra £25 a month for about £15 years!

if i can claim anything back - what evidence would I need to supply?

I mean, he just moved out ... and the only evidence of that really would be if he claimed housing benefit at his new address - which they could surely verify.
he does not live at that address any more.

would they want to come round to my house and look at it?
cant see why they'd need to really, but is there a reason they would?

many thanks

[factor-fiction]

Were you getting council tax benefit though, joko?

[joko]

no, i thought the landlord sorted it out while i was claiming, but i never claimed for that too - the landlord was paying it

stupid as i could have been claiming for that too

[ummmm]

How can you get a rebate on something you didn't pay?

[EvianBaby]

They'll just take your word for it that he moved out. When I moved out of my dads last year he called them and they immediately sent him a revised bill. I'd be surprised if you could claim anything back though.

[joko]

i did pay when i wasn't on housing

i am also asking for the landlord - if they can claim their overpay back too

[bednobs]

i thought your landlord was your dAD JOKO? surely he knew you were living alone?
someone must have been getting a bill which would have had both your names on it. I don't believe you can claim anything back now, but just get the single occupancy rate from now on

[CheekyChops]

Most councils will only backdate to the beginning of the current financial year although some will ackdate further if you provide evidence. Have a look on your local councils website.

One council says this about what evidence can be provided:
It is difficult to provide documents or other evidence showing that you live alone, but the sort of evidence that might be acceptable would be copies of claims for various state benefits which involve declaring your personal circumstances. Examples are claims for Council Tax Support and Housing Benefit. In the case of Council Tax Support and Housing Benefit we normally check matters with the Benefit Section.

[joko]

yes bednobs, but for some reason they just never bothered to change it!

i don't know why, probably just didn't think to - my dad is 85 and wouldn't have a clue how to do that sort of thing, and my mum isn't much better.

but that's why i'm asking for them, so i can give them some back if possible - they are pensioners so its a big chunk to take off them.

any letters would go to them, and apparently were addressed to them and never had mine or the exs name on them at all -
i just gave them money to pay it, i paid the £99 too because that's what my mum said it was - i never questioned it.

cheeky - thanks i will check with the council - i doubt i have evidence dating back that far, of the times i've claimed - but i may be able to get something from the housing people to verify it, if need be.

thanks all - i will ring and ask

[themas]

Let's get this clear! Are you saying that none of the council tax bills has been in your name? That they have all been in your landlord's name? That he has paid the tax to the council & you have reimbursed him?

If that is the situation I don't think you can claim anything back at all for yourself because you are not named on the bills. If the council did agree to a refund they would make it to the person named on the bill.

I suggest you have to contact the council:

1. Get the bills changed to your name with the 25% discount; &

2. Explain to them that previous bills have all been in your landlord's name but you have reimbursed him for the payments; that he is elderly & you are contacting them on his behalf; that you have lived alone at the address for many years. Then ask them whether there can be any refund, & if so for how long.


They might say they want evidence. The best evidence would be something from your ex. If you know where he is & he will co-operated you could get him to do a Statutory Declaration confirming when he left & where he has lived since. This might help. However, I would be very surprised if they agreed to any refund other than for a short period.