is there a way to find out when a property sold?

[sb6699]

Dh has received a summons for non-payment of council tax for a property he owned with his ex.

The years it relates to are a year after the house was sold but he has no documentation as he had signed everything over to his ex around 12 months prior and she dealt with the sale. He hasn't got any of this documentation either - it was nearly 15 years ago.

Basically he needs a way of proving that he isn't liable for the council tax for this period - can anyone help?

TIA

If he goes on the Land Reg website:

eservices.landregistry.gov.uk/www/wps/portal/!ut/p/b1/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfGjzOKNjSxMDA1NjDwsjM3MDTxN3dyNDUNMjQ1MjPWDU_P0C7IdFQG9k5Tz/

he might be able to find the answer on there, but if it was before 2000 he might need to call Land Reg and see what records they hold.

eservices.landregistry.gov.uk/www/wps/portal/!ut/p/b1/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfGjzOKNjSxMDA1NjDwsjM3MDTxN3dyNDUNMjQ1MjPWDU_P0C7IdFQG9k5Tz/

Whoops

I know that zoomla can tell you when something sold (although that's not really evidence I know) - I suspect that you can do a search with the land registry too (possibly online) which would be the definitive source. If the electoral role was kept up to date that could be a source of supporting evidence too

Oh, I meant to say 192.com (and probably other places) can tell you all about an address from the electoral roll point of view - pretty cheaply.

It was nearly 15 years ago

I don't understand this. I thought you can't be pursued for debts more than six years old, or have I got this wrong?

Thank you all.

Unfortunately council tax debt doesn't go away.

When they split up he moved back in with his mum, then his brother, so doesnt have anything that could prove where he was staying either.

Will definately have a look on the land register.

You might also find it on Rightmove, under Sold House Prices. They do go back that far, as long as you click on 'All Years' in the search.

I had the same problem with a house I had previously sold. I used this site (which is free) www.mouseprice.com and just sent the council a print out that showed the house had since been sold and gave them the name of my conveyencing solicitor in case they wanted any further information. I never heard anything more from them so assumed they were happy with the info I gave them.

Aaaargg - land registry can only give details from 2000 onwards!

Would the bank they had their mortgage with be able to tell him even though he signed it all over to her?

I didn't know that about council tax. What a nightmare for you both.

Proof of address - would bank statements help? Even if he no longer has them, the bank will have them on file going back years. I'm sure they'll charge you for them but might be worth a try?

Mouseprice can't find the location and when I put the postcode on rightmove it brings up a house on that street but not the one I want!

192.com is from 2002.

We are going to end up having to pay this aren't we :(

Anybody got a spare 3k

Have you searched using the town name only on Rightmove? Then you can go through it page by page until you find the street. Dull, but you never know.

I'm on my phone fresh, but might have a scroll fest later when I can get on my laptop.

He signed the house over in 95, then she sold it in 96. The years they are chasing are 97 and 98, its so long ago the house might not even be on there if it hasn't sold since!

I would guess the land registry have only put details online from 2000, I would expect they could go further back with a hard copy search. I would be inclined to get in touch with them myself and ask. Certainly if 3k was in the frame. :)

Land Registry can give older details on paper, it costs about £8 for a copy entry on the register. What may be closer to hand is proof of where he started paying council tax as his primary residence after the date of sale of the house.

www.nethouseprices.com can tell you when it was sold and how much for.

The sold house prices though will only tell you that the ex sold the property, not that he had signed everything over. Perhaps the solicitors will have kept details.

Can you phone the council and ask them to check the electoral register for that year? Hopefully, he will be shown as being at his new address, even if his ex didn't take him off the register at his old address.

I'm not sure whether the Land Registry stuff would help. If you order the copy, it will just show the new owners, and any charges affecting the property.

The Land Registry should have records as to when he stopped being an owner. He can phone them and ask what forms he needs to send in.

But first look at this:

www.payplan.com/debt-library/joint-and-several-liability-the-limitation-act-1980.php

This suggests that the council can't get a liability order when the debt is 6 years old, and then need the permission of the court to enforce when the judgment is 6 months old.

I was hoping that if he can prove the house was sold this would be enough for the council to realise their mistake.

As he can't remember the solicitor they used, he would have to try and get in touch with his ex.for this info which he really doesn't want to do.

As he was living between his mums/brothers/mates he won't have been on the electoral roll as none of them were a permanent address and they would have paid the council tax rather than him so that avenue is closed unfortunately.

Collaberate, my understanding is that council tax debt is treated differently and there is no expiry date :(

Think I'll try the hard copy records from the land registry.
Why does this always happen to us :(