AIBU for not letting my lodger go on the council tax bill?

[Georgeoftheinternet]

She’s under the assumption it will give her magical powers with regards to residency and it’s a better utility bill. I’ve already put her on the water and electric (2 by mistake) and she keeps on asking me to put her on the council tax.

She’s got an eu passport but from South America. Wants residency.

I’ve told her to get on the electoral roll as it’s good for credit checks/finding your last address etc.

I’ve given her a utility bill (was easy to add at 7pm on a Friday night and bill the next day).

She’s under the assumption that it’s going to help her open a bank account and the banks have already told her the water utility bill is fine.

I’ve lived overseas for many years and came back - so I’ve gone through this process.

She’s read that if you are in council tax arrears it can affect your permanent resident status - she’s read this as “if you don’t pay council tax” which she does, as part of her rent.

I’ve told her to get a driving licence as it’s good ID and address.

I just don’t want to feel pressurised into doing stuff because she disbelieves everything I say.

Sounds like a lot of effort? Maybe get a New lodger?

@sunlight81 I’ve lost my job so I need her rent money. Sometimes better the devil you know. She’s been a bit of a twat recently though. Hopefully she will move.

You are mad to have put her on the utility bills. She's a lodger! No. Take her off.

Refer her to citizens advice if she thinks you’re spoofing. They’ll set her right.

She sounds like hard work tbh.

@PostItJoyWeek why? It just shows she liable for the bill.

You’re a fool! Take her off the utility bills! She’s a liger not a tenant! She has no rights at all if you want her to go.

Stop being such a push over.

She’s here on a visa. What grounds would she have to claim residency? Is she even allowed to work here legally?

Be very careful, if you’re renting to someone who doesn’t have the right to stay this can blow up in your face

@MzHz hey calm down. She has an eu passport.

She’s a lodger if she wants all these things she needs rent a property not a room. I’m would not have agreed to put her on any bills what happens if she leaves and then the water company won’t deal with you because it’s not in your name? just setting yourself up for a potential headache

You are making it look like she is more than a lodger. You are opening yourself up to liability for all sorts. There is no reason to do so.

@BadDucis she was added, my name wasn’t removed. So I think I will just take her name of now as she has a bill that will last three months.

If she left and didn’t tell the utility company, than she would still be liable for the bill and I would get free electricity.

@PostItJoyWeek what liability?

erm yeah not quite how it would pan out but crack on if you’re not concerned

The thing is, I’ve faked a utility bill to get car finance. It was my parents bill and I just changed my name. I removed the QR code and that was it. No one can check the account with the utility company so I know these don’t mean anything.

I was going to make a tenancy agreement, but yes that would be stupid!

@BadDucks it does.... it’s very easy to open a new electrify account as well. You can do it online.

Lodgers dont usually get their name on the bills. If you start adding her to things, she could make the argument that she was not a lodger but was in fact sub-letting (if you rent) or renting from you as a proper tenant.

Do you claim single person discount on council tax? If so you have a legal obligation to inform the council as a lodger means you lose this discount. Not sure if that means they put them on the bill or not.

That gives her rights and you wont be able to get rid of her as easily as just telling a lodger to leave

@WhereverIGoddamnLike She can claim that but as I live in the house it would be hard.

I don’t lots about lodgers and their rights but

• council tax - are you getting the single person discount?

• proof of address. I would have assumed she needs something to register with doctors, for say car insurance etc so do sort of understand why she wants a bill

• electoral role. She will need to be on this - but asssume that doesn’t mean she needs to be on the bill. Also I’d assume that I’d she’s on it and you don’t pay it - she’s also liable so an odd thing to want.

Some utilities report to credit agencies do you could be financially linked

@Georgeoftheinternet

Ever heard if a house share? More than one person living in the house, all with the same rights. Even if one person owns the house, if they take in a renter that renter has rights.
Lodgers don't really have rights.

If you want rid if her, she is gone. But if you start putting her on the bills and she can claim she believed she was a tenant then you might end up going through court to evict her. We're just trying to give you some advice to protect you, but you're being very flippant and rude so I'm out. Good luck.

@ArosGartref if the bill isn’t paid than yes the refer to debt collection agencies.

But the stupid thing is that you don’t even need to show ID to get utilities.

@MLMbotsgoaway no I didn’t know there was such a thing (never paid it as lived in HMOs).

Doctors - I don’t think she’s registered and you may need to go in with ID. I’ve changed doctors and it’s easy with an nhs number.

Electoral roll - you don’t need to be on it. It just helps when you apply for credit as they can find the last three years of address.

Bills - If she moves out and I don’t pay the bills then who cares because it’s my house and I might get a meter installed. So my loss really. She can show her new tenancy agreement.

@Georgeoftheinternet you mean a tenancy agreement. The difference being the landlord doesn’t live in the property. I live in the property.