Council tax included in rent?

[notsomanicnow]

We're going to view a rental property where the council tax is included in rent (it's a barn conversion on a farm). I'm just wondering whether not being registered as paying council tax anywhere will be a problem for us when we go to buy a house, in terms of mortgage applications?

A mortgage lender will look at your income and your outgoings, so whether the council tax is lumped in with the rent or paid separately is immaterial? It is still a monthly outgoing.
Not quite sure what the question is - wherever you live would you not be registered at that address for paying council tax? Would you not be registered for paying council tax on this particular property, or would it all be in the LLs name?

Sorry if not been much help

thank you - sorry my question wasn't clear! Unlike most rental properties where the tenants are responsible for paying council tax, at this property (presumably as it is an annexe on the owner's farm, so it hasn't been rated as a separate dwelling) the LL will pay the council tax.

My concern is that the fact we wouldn't be registered as paying council tax/on the electoral role at the time of a mortgage application, it might mean we fail the credit check?

Can you not still be on the electoral role? (clueless)

Why would council tax be included in the rent? Not, by any chance, because the landlord isn't declaring that s/he's renting the property out? I would be very cautious indeed about going anywhere near this - if s/he's trying to conceal that the property is being rented, there might be implications for, for example, your insurance. Smells suspect to me, but then I'm a cynical old git

I think that is a good point of caution..............

I think it's got to be dodgy. I just don't see what's in it for them to do it this way.

When I've bought before, I've been on the electoral role, as that does help and you should look to doing that, even if you're not paying CT. Not having a seperate council tax bill shouldn't be a problem, so long as this is stated in your contract with your landlord, so you can show the contract to your mortgage provider and give a good reason why you're not seeming to pay it i.e. you're not just defaulting or ignoring it.

So long as you have other utility bills, gas, water etc up to date, it shouldn't be a problem.

OP, sorry, I missed your extra post. Being in "an annexe on the owner's farm, so it hasn't been rated as a separate dwelling" is called being a lodger. You are not renting, you are lodging in their house.

If you aren't happy with that arrangement, however they may be trying to dress it up, then look for somewhere else.

I've seen examples of council tax being included in rent but generally in tiny urban bedsits in houses of multiple occupation. So yes it does sound a bit odd if this is a reasonably sized rural kind of place that it hasn't been rated as separate.

You can still be on the electoral roll tho, just fill in the sheet when it comes round (every October?) Presuming that you have a separate postal address from the farm and will receive your own form!

Hmm. Good points about the dodginess or otherwise of the letting! It's through a well-regarded letting agent so I'll check it out with them. It's a newly converted barn (detached) on a farm.

Thanks all!