To start a fire?

[PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR]

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.

Do they know the house is on the market?

I haven't. I just got the bill today

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.

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.

Oh. That's a bit of a pisser.

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.

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!

Wish my landlords paid my council tax, its an extra £200 plus a month on top of the rent 😒

You will pay for 27 days April 1st to the 27th.
So a one off payment of around £270 by the sounds of it

As a landlord, you sound absolutely clueless.

Yeah that's pretty bad.... I will have to send over the tenants agreement to the council.

Now time to look at your other problems. Why are you letting it out to new tenants at cost when you can barely afford food? Is everything else in proper order for being a landlord?

I never meant to be one, my DP died horrifically and I couldn't bear to be there anymore.

Just to confirm, the charge only applies if it's empty? (Which it will not be very soon) That's what cgpt says.

If you rent it out and it is someone's primary residence you shouldn't. The extra tax is on homes classed as second homes not homes you rent out as someone's main home
. It looks as though your council has classed it as your second home. The council tax should be in the name of the person you are renting to. If both houses are in your name they
have probably assumed it is your second home

https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/second-homes-and-empty-properties

But you are one now... and you need to wise up on your responsibilities and your costings.

@PILEALLTHEPILLSONTHEFLOOR is the property you are renting out safe?? As in gas safety certificate etc?

You could be a bit nicer considering this change only JUST came into effect.

You still need to know what your obligations as a landlord are and you have to fulfil them. Do you use the deposit scheme, are you making sure you have up to date gas and electrical safety checks, PAT testing for any appliances just for starters?

But you didnt JUST become a landlord...
I dread to think what else is amiss potentially and again your costings are a huge concern. You have new tenants coming this month, but you are struggling with the cost of food?

It sounds like you could really do with someone to legally guide you through renting out your property. There are a lot of legal responsibilities that come with it, and nit complying with them could leave you wide open to all sorts of problems. Please seek some professional advice, or use a letting agent on your behalf.

She's not a professional landlord , give her a break . OP the double tax applies mainly if you have a second holiday home . If you have recently acquired it through inheritance there may be a gap where it was empty and unoccupied and not liable . Is it going to be vacant between lets ? You should inform Council although your previous tenants might not appreciate being sent a final Council Tax bill although they also should have known they would be liable , just like water , gas, electric, Internet and will receive closing bills fir all these too.

Not struggling but I like to rearrange my finances if an unexpected bill arises. Thankfully I will not have to.

I was an accidental landlord too, OP. I am sorry for your loss .
I ended up handing it all over to an agent as it was too stressful.
You are due for April 2026/27 if you had tenants in, until the end of March. If you didn't and it was empty in 25/26 you may have a back pay/shortfall added.
Your new tenants are on an assured tenancy presumably so at least 6 months before you can give them notice. Most tenants would want to stay longer than that so you do risk them not moving out if that is the house you are selling. If not, and you are having to move back in despite the painful memories, you also risk them not leaving on time - not trying to scare you but this is info you need to share with them unless you are still trying to sell it despite negative equity. If no takers last 8 months I appreciate you need to rent it out but Shelter will always say stay put and harder to sell a house with sitting tenants.