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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To start a fire?

157 replies

PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:10

Just received a shock, a letter telling me my council tax will now be £300 up from £87 due to the 100% 2nd property premium.

Supposedly the charge is to fund police, fire and NHS. Perhaps I'll ring up all three every month to get my money's worth.

On a serious note, my house is already rented out at cost (no profit). The only reason I have the extra house (and extra subsequent mortgage) is because my family members died. I am not willing to pass on this cost to my tenants. I've already cut my food spending to the bone, I honestly don't know what to do.

OP posts:
Original poster
PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:23

Okay, thank you guys so much for clarifying. I thought that even if tenanted, that I would need to pay council tax of £300 per month. That takes care of that! PHEW!

OP posts:
weareallqueens · 12/04/2026 18:21

Tenants pay council tax. They’re the ones using the council services. The only circumstances I can imagine a landlord paying is if they are pulling a fast one and charging more to be inclusive of bills.

Original poster
PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:21

SpiceGirlsNeedAComeBack · 12/04/2026 18:21

If your inbetween tenants and its empty you will need to pay. You sound like you don’t know what the heck your doing as a landlord this is very concerning.

Edited
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Oh. That's a bit of a pisser.

OP posts:
SpiceGirlsNeedAComeBack · 12/04/2026 18:21

PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:20

Oh god I am so glad about this. Thank you guys. I knew this was the right place to post this. I thought I had to pay it even if the property is let out! I am in the middle of changing tenant right now.

If your inbetween tenants and its empty you will need to pay. You sound like you don’t know what the heck your doing as a landlord this is very concerning.

Evaka · 12/04/2026 18:21

OP, your affairs do not sound to be in order. Get off Mumsnet and research your obligations to both tenants and hmrc as a landlord.

Original poster
PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:21

ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/04/2026 18:18

Seriously? How long have you been paying it?

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I haven't. I just got the bill today

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/04/2026 18:20

PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:20

The new tenants move in on the 28th.

Do they know the house is on the market?

shellyleppard · 12/04/2026 18:20

@PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR as a tenant I've always always paid my own council tax and associated bills. Never has my landlord paid them...

Original poster
PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:20

The new tenants move in on the 28th.

OP posts:
Original poster
PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:20

Oh god I am so glad about this. Thank you guys. I knew this was the right place to post this. I thought I had to pay it even if the property is let out! I am in the middle of changing tenant right now.

OP posts:
TheCurious0range · 12/04/2026 18:19

When I was a tenant I always paid my own council tax, pretty sure the second home rate is for empty properties or those occupied under a certain number of days

Heronwatcher · 12/04/2026 18:19

I think you either need to rent the house out with sufficient profit to cover the extra council tax (so an extra £75 a week between all the tenants) or sell the house. I can’t see why you’re so enraged? This was a well publicised policy and you’ve taken the decision to keep the second house (I assume for at least 12 months) rather than sell it. The second home increment was meant for exactly these types of situations.

Also as a reminder council tax is used for funding of essential local services like schools, bins, police, fire etc. I imagine both you and your tenants do use these.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/04/2026 18:18

PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:18

OH THANK GOD I DONT HAVE TO PAY IT!!!! THE HOUSE IS LET!!!!

Seriously? How long have you been paying it?

Original poster
PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:18

OH THANK GOD I DONT HAVE TO PAY IT!!!! THE HOUSE IS LET!!!!

OP posts:
SpiceGirlsNeedAComeBack · 12/04/2026 18:18

PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:17

Wait are you serious??? So I don't have to pay this????

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No, but do they know the property is letted out? Are you all offical in landlord terms?

ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/04/2026 18:17

PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:16

Are all renters now paying the double council tax?

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I think you are doing council tax wrong somewhere. Are you saying you pay tax on both properties?

Original poster
PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:17

Tryagain26 · 12/04/2026 18:16

The double council tax is only on second homes that are empty. If it is rented out it won't attract the higher rate.
Does the Council know the house is let? The council tax on it should be paid by the people who rent the house.

Wait are you serious??? So I don't have to pay this????

OP posts:
SpiceGirlsNeedAComeBack · 12/04/2026 18:17

Your tenants should be paying council tax? This doesn’t make any sense.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/04/2026 18:17

PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:15

It's been on the market for 8 months at below what I paid, so I'm now trying to sell the one I live in and move back into the other one.

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So if you are evicting the tenants why claim
you don’t want to pass on extra cost to them? They’d potentially rather pay more rent than be kicked out

Tryagain26 · 12/04/2026 18:16

The double council tax is only on second homes that are empty. If it is rented out it won't attract the higher rate.
Does the Council know the house is let? The council tax on it should be paid by the people who rent the house.

Original poster
PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:16

Nourishinghandcream · 12/04/2026 18:16

Must have missed something here but why is the tennant not paying the CT on the house they are renting?

Are all renters now paying the double council tax?

OP posts:
Nourishinghandcream · 12/04/2026 18:16

Must have missed something here but why is the tennant not paying the CT on the house they are renting?

GingerdeadMan · 12/04/2026 18:15

But why are you liable for the council tax? It should be on your tenants to pay it direct to the council, you shouldn't need to get involved.

Original poster
PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR · 12/04/2026 18:15

BudgetBuster · 12/04/2026 18:14

Sell your extra house?

It's been on the market for 8 months at below what I paid, so I'm now trying to sell the one I live in and move back into the other one.

OP posts:
BudgetBuster · 12/04/2026 18:14

Sell your extra house?