I rent a house from a letting agency. I have not even been in the property 6 months yet and I have been sent a bill from the Rates Collection Agency for £440. I'm not sure if this is for the whole year or not. I believed that my monthly rent included my rates. I was never told differently by the letting agency. Most rented properties in my area (if not all) include rates in the rental charge. I cant find my lease but I will ring my letting agency on Monday. I think they should have made it clear that I was responsible to pay rates seperately. My rent is £455 per month for a 3 bedroom townhouse. I live in N. Ireland and this is the average rent for a 3 bedroom house.
2007-02-16 08:10:37 · 11 answers · asked by K 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
Good question, you really need to get hold of the lease agreement.
Call the agent and just ask for a copy as you have lost or misplaced yours, don't mention the rates at this time. Get all the information together, then inform the agent that you were told that the rates were included (only if it is not contradicted in the agreement), if there is no mention of it in the agreement then say you were told that the rates were included. Don't tell them you "think" they were included or you're not sure, make out that you are certain that they were included.
Then send the bill to the agent and make sure you inform the department that have sent the charges of the situation.
I would be interested to know how you get on.
2007-02-17 00:17:44 · answer #1 · answered by PaulB 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Find the bill, check the dates to make sure you was actually living there for the period the bill covers, next find the tenancy agreement, however hard as it will be written in black & white that if the letting agents pay the rates, which you can photocopy and send to the company with a letter, you need it in black & white, If it is not on your agreement i'm afraid it will need paying, even if you get it set to monthly payments,
In the UK we rent houses, pay the rates (Council Tax as we call it) separately, a rental doesn't include council tax at all in Uk, but the bill may well be for the qhole year so good luck in finding your paperwork, you will need it....
2007-02-17 07:31:02 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check your lease. When you phone the letting agency just say you have mislaid your copy of the lease and need one ASAP for work reasons. If you can't pick it up same day, see if they can fax the one you signed through. I wouldn't mention the bill until you are sure of what you have signed. No reason to risk raised voices on your end or theirs. It may be an error but until you have checked what you signed you don't know whose.
Also check with your neighbours what rates they are paying.
If you should pay by terms of your lease, then pay up or risk having bad credit records. Ask collection agency if you can pay by installments as you have been surprised by this.
Consider other bills you may not be aware of!
2007-02-17 03:42:27 · answer #3 · answered by nikki 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On mainland UK it usually the occupier or the person entitled to occupation who is liable for rates/council tax. If the property is classed as a house in multiple occupation (HMO) the landlord usually becomes liable.Take heed of the other answerers response as you may have signed a lease excluding you from liability in which case either the agent or the landlord may be liable. Play it cool when asking for a copy of your lease and don't let the agent know your real reason for asking until you are sure of your footing. There are other classes of occupiers who are not held liable for this iniquitous tax but from your question I would deduce that you are not one of them. Best of luck.
2007-02-17 06:34:35 · answer #4 · answered by DEREK M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very good price. In the Southeast of England what you get for that is a one bedroom flat. And no rates included.
2007-02-16 08:14:57 · answer #5 · answered by ladysorrow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a hold of your lease and get onto the agency on Monday, don't take any nonsense from them!!!!
2007-02-16 23:36:33 · answer #6 · answered by JOANNE C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact your letting agency and talk them through it. Good to see a fellow irish man in here lmao. Never seems to be any. But more seriously just give them a call and discuss to them your situation. Good luck man;)
2007-02-16 08:14:39 · answer #7 · answered by chris c 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your going to have to read the small print on the contract you signed and if t says rates not included then sadly you will have to pay
2007-02-16 08:17:16 · answer #8 · answered by biffo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you really need to find your lease and any other documents you were given when signing before you know where you stand
2007-02-16 08:14:31 · answer #9 · answered by johnstone4192 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
check the lease.
2007-02-16 08:56:10 · answer #10 · answered by jewelking_2000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋