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Original poster

Inherited house council tax bill

81 replies

CuckooCuckooClock · 29/02/2020 14:24

My gran died 2 years ago.
She named me, my brother and my mum as executors of the Will.

My brother signed over his responsibilities to my mum.
My mum and I do not get on at all. I have only seen her twice since the funeral.

She put the house on the market reluctantly because she wanted to keep it as a holiday home for herself. She priced it far too high and it didn’t sell. it did have an offer which was accepted and we applied for probate.

On Wednesday I received a council tax bill for over £800. I could find the money but would struggle without it.

My mum, brother and I are the only beneficiaries of the will getting 6/8, 1/8 and 1/8 shares respectively.

What should I do? What can I do?

I’m scared if I don’t pay it will affect my credit rating and I won’t be able to remortgage my own house ever. But I’m also reluctant to pay £800 every 6 months for a house I don’t even have a key for so my mum has a holiday home (I suspect she uses the property now and again).

Any advice gratefully received

OP posts:
Original poster
CuckooCuckooClock · 29/02/2020 15:11

£800 is the full council tax bill.

OP posts:
LIZS · 29/02/2020 15:11

Could she afford to buy your share out? You could check land registry to see whose name it is now in.

Original poster
CuckooCuckooClock · 29/02/2020 15:11

Thank you all for your replies btw.
I’m in an absolute state about all this. My mental health is not good.

OP posts:
ScribblingMilly · 29/02/2020 15:12

Who is the solicitor dealing with the sale of the house?

Original poster
CuckooCuckooClock · 29/02/2020 15:14

I don’t know my mum’s financial situation so she may be able to buy me out but even if she could she might not want to.

OP posts:
Original poster
CuckooCuckooClock · 29/02/2020 15:14

I don’t know if the house is being sold.

OP posts:
Original poster
CuckooCuckooClock · 29/02/2020 15:15

I’ll check land registry thank you

OP posts:
WoofAndWhiskers · 29/02/2020 15:19

Can you get your brother to speak to your mum? As ChicCroissant says, you are both executor and part owner of the house. If the house is now in your names then you need to decide together how you will deal with bills including council tax.

Speak to the council on Monday to find out why they think it is you that should pay - do they know your mum owns most of the house? Maybe you can just get the bill sent to her!!

Original poster
CuckooCuckooClock · 29/02/2020 15:29

My brother doesn’t speak to my mum either.
Abusive childhood.
I will call the council on Monday.
Thank you

OP posts:
WoofAndWhiskers · 29/02/2020 15:37

It's possible your mum has filled out a form naming you as the person liable for council tax then? Council should be able to sort it. Do you think you have actually been named on the deeds to the house/own part of the house? It doesn't sound like you remember this part happening.

Original poster
CuckooCuckooClock · 29/02/2020 15:43

I haven’t seen the deeds. Could I be named on them without my knowledge?
It’s possible my mum asked for the bill to be sent to me.

OP posts:
MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 29/02/2020 16:25

I don't know the law around this but it sounds like you must involve a solicitor as you don't know enough to do things properly. The solicitor can advise you and your mum and their bill can be paid out of the proceeds if the house. If your mum won't sell (though your earlier posts suggest the house is under offer) h there she has to buy you out.

Original poster
CuckooCuckooClock · 29/02/2020 16:44

I think the original buyers pulled out. This was last year and we did have a solicitor for that (they asked me to sign loads of forms) but they have told me that they have closed the file now and billed my mum.
Sorry in my emotional state I forgot about that bit.
I feel really sick and panicky about the whole thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
CuckooCuckooClock · 29/02/2020 16:47

I don’t think I can force my mum to buy me out can I?
She may not be able to.
My dh suggested that I just sign over my share to my mum for free to get rid of the stress.
He only suggested this yesterday so I’m not sure how I feel about it. I know my gran wanted to leave my dc something to help pay for uni.

OP posts:
Original poster
CuckooCuckooClock · 29/02/2020 16:52

What happens if one owner wants to sell but another doesn’t?
I’m pretty sure my brother would want to sell but I can’t get hold of him (I’m not sure where he lives. he may not even be in the country)

OP posts:
ScribblingMilly · 29/02/2020 17:01

How much money is the house worth, OP? Is your share enough to make it worthwhile to get a solicitor to handle the whole thing for you?

ScribblingMilly · 29/02/2020 17:01

Or is there another family member who could act as go-between?

starfishmummy · 29/02/2020 17:02

If she died two years ago then is the will still being sorted out? If it is then the bills come from her money.

If the will has been settled then who now owns the house? If its the three of you then you responsible for the bill. Ideally with the split as per the ownership (I think you said 6/8, 1/8 and 1/8. But the council will probably just go after one person)

Winterlife · 29/02/2020 17:03

If two owners want to sell and the third doesn’t, you probably could force a sale, assuming the interests are equal.

Original poster
CuckooCuckooClock · 29/02/2020 17:16

It’s listed for £170k but I think it’s massively overpriced. So I guess my share could be worth somewhere between £10k-20k.
I guess I need to find a solicitor - do they give quotes?

OP posts:
Original poster
CuckooCuckooClock · 29/02/2020 17:16

No other family to mediate

OP posts:
ScribblingMilly · 29/02/2020 17:32

You do sound stressed, but that's quite a lot of money to give up on, particularly if you can find an efficient & plain speaking solicitor to sort it out. Most solicitors will give an initial consultation for free & yes, then give quotes. I'd see several because it'll give you a good idea of what your situation is. Even if you do decide to sign your share of the house away because of the stress of it all, you will want your own solicitor to handle that (with your mother covering the cost). I found a good solicitor by looking for recommendations & discussion on my local Facebook community site.

ChicCroissant · 29/02/2020 17:45

From the OP's first post:-
She named me, my brother and my mum as executors of the Will.

OP, you will know if you are an executor - if you have applied for probate you will have completed a form and possibly already had an interview at the probate office. You said your brother signed away his rights to be an executor.

An executor is responsible for dealing with the estate and as such, with the bills such as this. However the bill is for the estate and should be paid from the proceeds such as cash in a bank account, any insurance policy payouts or indeed the sale of the house.

I'm guessing that the house is not in three names, but still in the name of your gran with the proceeds being split in that ratio after the sale.

But really you need to confirm whether you are an executor or not, and whether the house has been transferred into the three names - again, you'd have had to sign for this so you would know if it has been done.

cabbageking · 29/02/2020 17:53

Once probate is confirmed and who know who inherits what then it falls to the beneficiaries to pay the bills.

If the house is divided as you say the bills also fall to each accordingly.
You need a copy of private to ensure everything was declared and apportioned correctly according to any will.

katielilly · 29/02/2020 18:05

Ring the council on Monday and tell them there's been a mistake and give them your Mothers name and address for payment. She's the majority owner after all. She may have done this ie told council you're the owner (?maliciously), to force you to speak to her?
Make an appointment with a suitable solicitor going forward though, to get your money. Definitely don't give that money away.

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