Why do tenants have to pay council tax?

[Goodnightseamer]

It's a domestic property tax. But tenants don't own any property, so they're paying tax on something they don't own. They didn't use to have to pay rates, but they have to pay council tax. Why? NB council tax is not a tax for use of services so that argument doesn't wash. It is a tax where liability is created by the existence of a domestic property. Which tenants clearly do not own.

Why do you keep saying it's a domestic tax? It's used to pay for services you are using. If the house was vacant but furnished the landlord would have to pay, if they were unfurnished no council tax is payable.

Scaryteacher - agreed!!!

Seems strange to think people under 40 will have no or little memory/knowledge of it

Your argument is nonsensical. Tenants did pay rates which were pretty much the same thing - a contribution towards the services they use.

Whether it is fair that 3 tenants in a property which is in band B pay more than 3 tenants in a property in band D is a different matter. But that isn't the argument you're making

It’s for using the services provided. It should be an individual tax and not done on property value as larger families use more of the services so would be more proportional cost wise.

By your logic we should all stop paying road fund licence because that is definitely not spent on the roads.

Tax is tax is tax.

Property is taxed via stamp duty land tax, capital gains, or inheritance tax. Of which a LL will pay an inflated rate of due to owning more than one property. I'm not in that position, I am not complaining. It is simply a fact.

Council Tax is in relation to the amenities that the council provides to the local Borough. Including bin collection, maintenance of public areas, police, fire, ambulance services.

Let's face it, your actual money is probably paying your councillors salary, not your bin mens salary.

Councillors don't get a salary. They claim expenses. Though it can amount to good money, but that's money they spent anyway

Whilst I think the op is correct that council tax is a property tax, if it were transferred to landlords then residents would not be able to access discounts based on their situation such as the 25% single person - so by adding to the landlords costs - and ultimately upping the rent paid - would not help anyone I suspect (otherthan the multi working adult occupants perhaps!)

@Pentaras that was a scandal. Landlords collectively netted millions during the changeover to poll tax.

Just to be pedantic, Council Tax is comprised of two elements; a 50% property element, and 50% personal element. The latter element can be altered. The exemptions on the property element are far less generous than previously.

CTax is a hybrid of Rates and CC.

I worked in Community Charge and then Council Tax from its inception.

Are you being deliberately thick Op? It's a means of raising revenue to pay for council services. Different methods have been discussed over the years, including a local income tax, but using property as a basis was decided to be the fairest and easiest method of tax.

The tax on property ownership is stamp duty when you buy it and death duty if you inherit it. Only homeowners pay these. Council tax is for the use of services provided by the council. Both homeowners and renters use these, do of course both must pay for that use.

@BillHadersNewWife

Apologies if this has already been asked, but are you given services like bins, libraries and street lights etc free of charge in Australia?

flirty council tax in my area is based on two people sharing a property unless stated otherwise. why should my son pay full council tax when he lives alone ? he is entitled to 25% off so pays less as a result.
how is that unfair ? why should he pay for two people when he is single ?

How's that going to work when the tenants may or may not be eligible for discounts or exemptions?

Because council tax pays for LOCAL SERVICES like bin collections, police, fire, libraries and roads etc - all things you use/rely on on a daily basis......

Tenants did pay rates which were pretty much the same thing

I rented for several years pre poll tax and never had to pay council or water rates. It was always included in the rent.

A quick internet search will tell you exactly what your council tax pays for. Get googling OP. Your facts aren't correct at the moment.

Local services such as planning, transport, highways, police, fire, libraries, leisure and recreation, rubbish collection and disposal, environmental health and trading standards.

Councillors do get 'responsibility' allowances in addition to claiming expenses - usually a flat rate for being a councillor plus 'special responsibility' allowances for the mayor, council leader, service portfolioholders, chairing committees, etc. All subject to PAYE deductions.

The determination of the amount of tax is based on the size of property, yes, but that doesn’t mean it is s ‘property tax’ in the same way that stamp duty or capital gains tax are.

It is a crude assumption that size of property is an indication of how many people from the household do or could draw on services.

It pays for bins etc, the biggest sum goes in children’s and adult services.

Since there is a council tax discount for single occupants it is clearly not treated as a property tax but a household tax. You can even get total exemption on an empty property, so no, it is not a property tax.

Fair enough that it is the householder who pays it.

Say if you pay £500/ month rent plus £200/ month council tax. Now there's a new rule that the landlord must pay the council tax. So, at renewal your rent is now £700/ month. All market rents have similarly gone up. A single person no longer benefits from the discount, their landlord does. Nobody else pays a different amount. Why is this better?

Lazyarse You do have to pay if the property is empty and unfurnished. My Council gives a month's exemption, when it used to be six. I know, as I was paying after my tenants left the house in June, and before we reoccupied the house when we moved back from abroad just over three weeks ago.

It annoys me that people always frame this argument in terms of bins when in fact adult and child social care dominates council budgets. I know one PP did mention elder care but it’s not sufficiently appreciated.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42990221

I've had a couple of tenants that haven't paid their council tax, one lad owed 7k to the local council and 21k to the HMRC, but I didn't know this until 2 years after he left.

Because it's right that everyone contributes towards the services they use and do not have the right to be automatically subsised by everyone else for the privilege of using them.

“As shown other countries make the landlord pay it.”

And the rent will go up accordingly, plus the % added to the Agent, and doubtless the ability to claim single occupancy discount will disappear because how could a landlord know for sure and take legal accountability for paying the amount due if someone’s partner moved in. Oh.,,, unless you add on another % for checking and admin if that.....