Unknowingly Underpaid Council Tax

Hi,

I’ve just come to the end of my tenancy to find that my full deposit is being taken to cover ‘unpaid council tax’. I did not realise I had underpaid as my estate agent had incorrectly calculated the amount I needed to pay in council tax “for the entire duration of my tenancy” and had arranged a monthly payment plan at the start of my tenancy which in fact only covered half of my bill.

Despite having everything very clearly documented in writing, they are refusing to acknowledge the mistake. They had already checked this halfway through my tenancy after accusing me of being behind in my scheduled payments, only to later have their accounts team ‘confirm’ that I had been paying the correct amount.

As I was in shared accommodation and was not able to view the council tax bill, I feel cheated out of my money as I was relying on them to provide me with the correct information. They had actually provided all of the other tenants with the incorrect tenancy agreement which stated that council tax was included in their rent, so I was the only tenant that was required to pay council tax… (thankfully only my share).

I’m assuming there isn’t much I can do as I do indeed owe this money, but I wanted to see if there was any action I could take before they take my deposit?

Money Claim Online against the agent? If you have a well documented case, should be straightforward. You would be able to claim for your costs too.

You have a tenancy agreement that says council tax is included? If they got the sums wrong that is their problem. You paid according to what they worked out I would not be paying more.

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You have nothing to lose by asking the Deposit Scheme to use their arbitration service which is free.

Was your deposit protected in this as it sounds like you are in an HMO ?

As Colin says it was their mistake so they should suck it up.

If you knew that you were going to be charged more than stated you may never have agreed to the tenancy in the beginning.

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