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.

If it was billed by service, imagine the bill for your house burning down or being mugged or for social services assistance with parenting issues or for those wanting to foster or adopt, or paying to go into a library or park or to look at a cut grass verge or for your road to be gritted.

It would be impossible to accurately work it out and some people would end up with very large bills.

Don't be ridiculous.

Of course people used to pay rates when they rented. My parents had a council house for decades, like tens of millions of other people used to. And they paid rates.

The council tax isn't a tax on the owner of the property. It is a tax on the people who live there and who benefit from refuse collection, schools, libraries, emergency services, street lighting, education, road maintenance,social care, etc etc etc etc etc etc.

I’m in NI and this is exactly how it is here....

We have domestic rates, rather than council tax and it’s paid by the landlords, not tenants.

@Goodnightseamer The poster who stated that it's not easy as she has to pay council tax between tenants while she gets the property ready was responded to with "no violin small enough". Seems like you're really understanding.

@SunshineAngel you are correct. I understand perfectly.

We have domestic rates, rather than council tax and it’s paid by the landlords, not tenants.

No it's not paid for by the landlords. The landlords include in the rental price, then forward the payment on. Not pay it out of their own pocket.

We have domestic rates, rather than council tax and it’s paid by the landlords, not tenants.

But doesn't the landlord increase the rent to cover it?

Anybody watching Strictly tonight.............................................................................?

But doesn't the landlord increase the rent to cover it?

Yes the tenant pays rent and rates are included.

It's a tax on using the property. Whoever is resident is getting bins collected, using Street lighting etc.

@Cloverbeauty what a nonsensical post. Local councillors dont get paid

OP- moaning about having to pay tax is never a good look.

The council will get funding from central government to help provide social care services which are astronomical.

Agreeing with everyone saying it pays for services.

I rent from a housing association. I don't expect them to pay for refuse collection, police and social care etc.

I pay that with council tax and I get a reasonable service for it.

@Goodnightseamer, so what are the nefarious councils spending your cash on if not on services? Where's it going?

So you would be happier paying for it, in a different way?

Yes I would be paying for the service if and when I used it.

@Dashel other countries I have lived in things were billed for, when my car caught fire I got a £500 bill from the fire department.

You want to know something really freaking weird. Students don't have to pay council tax. But if you as a non student rents with students YOU will be liable for the entire council tax unless you live in a house of multiple occupancy. So if you are all sharing a house not as a HofMO the one non student cops the lot.

How would billing for something like police or teachers or road maintenance work?

If I got mugged and called the police, would I be charged for them to come out and take a statement? If the mugger was armed would there be an additional fee? What if they never catch him, do I still have to pay? They could argue that they still used resources, but I could rebut how/what resources were used and refuse to pay.

@longwayoff local services are funded by four revenue tranches, with council tax being the smallest element.

Look, if it's just about "paying for services", which it's not, because taxpayers aren't purchasers, why don't students pay it? They certainly use services, especially when they all fly tip at the end of their tenancy.

Yes I would be paying for the service if and when I used it.

So how would that work? How do you pay for road lighting?

I mean you are already paying their mortgage plus extra usually, so why do renters also have to pay their tax too?.

I’m not a LL, but this is too simplistic. First and foremost a tenant pays to live in the rented property, not to pay the LL’s mortgage. Sorry to state the obvious.

My ex LL bought a 1 bed flat and we then proceeded to pay him £1100 to live there. We paid him tens of thousands over the course of the tenancy so I do get the annoyance that you feel like you’re contributing to someone else’s mortgage.

£1100pm

It is a tax that pays for local services that everyone uses, like waste collection. It is only fair that those who use the service pay the local tax. It maybe levied on property values (unfairly I believe) but it is to pay for services used. At present the system is very unfair to some - eg. a single, often older person paying the same as a similar house next door with eight people in it.(though single occupants do qualify for a 25% discount).

because taxpayers aren't purchasers

What?

Look, if it's just about "paying for services", which it's not, because taxpayers aren't purchasers, why don't students pay it? They certainly use services, especially when they all fly tip at the end of their tenancy.

Because most students are either living at home or OOO without an income. This is economics 101.