Dosh dilemma: Raj never updated his council tax details after moving out. Could he be in trouble?

Six months ago, Raj moved out of a rented flat he shared with friends. He assumed his landlord or one of his housemates would tell the council he had left.

Recently, a letter arrived at his parents' address saying he may still owe council tax from that period. Raj genuinely believed it wasn't his responsibility to update the council's records.

Now he's wondering: can the council still chase him?

Many people assume council tax records are updated automatically when they move home. In reality, councils generally expect residents to notify them when they move in or out of a property.

If Raj was still listed as liable for the address after he left, the council may believe he remains responsible for council tax charges for some or all of that period.

What could happen?

Depending on the circumstances, the council could:

• ask for evidence showing when he moved out
• update its records if a mistake has been made
• pursue unpaid council tax if it believes he was still liable
• add court or recovery costs if formal recovery action has already started

What Raj should do

Raj should contact the council as soon as possible and explain the situation.

To support his case, he should gather any evidence showing when he moved out, such as:

• a tenancy agreement or tenancy end notice
• utility bills at a new address
• electoral register records
• correspondence relating to his new home

The sooner Raj engages with the council, the easier it is likely to be to resolve the issue.

Ignoring the letter could make matters worse. But if Raj genuinely moved out when he says he did, documentary evidence may help the council correct its records and prevent the issue from escalating.

The key is to act quickly. Councils can pursue council tax arrears and recovery costs where they believe money is owed, but they will usually review evidence if a resident can show they were no longer responsible for the property.

You can find out more about paying council tax on the government website.