Advice and benefits

What is joint and several liability?

More than one person is responsible for paying the council tax if there is more than one owner or more than one tenant living in the property, or if the owner or tenant has a partner. This is called 'joint and several liability'.

You are considered the partner of a person if you are husband and wife or living together as husband and wife, or if you are civil partners or living together as civil patrners.

What happens if I am jointly and severally liable for the council tax?

If you are jointly and severally liable for the council tax you are, in fact, personally responsible for paying the whole of the council tax bill, and not just a share of it. If you pay your 'share' but the other person does not pay their 'share', we can recover the arrears from you, not just from the other person. 

I think that I should be jointly and severally liable but my name is not on the bill

You are still responsible for paying the council tax even if your name does not appear on the council tax bill. If there are arrears on the account and the council finds out about you, we can backdate the bill as far back as six years.

If you think you should be responsible for paying the council tax but your name is not on the bill please contact us using the details below.

Web survey

We are keen to learn your views about the council tax pages on our website. To complete our quick online survey click on the associated link at right.

Contact Details

Contact name

The Council Tax Section

Telephone

020 8726 7000

Fax

020 8667 8440

Out of hours

08459 400 160

Email

croyctax@croydon.gov.uk

Address

Council Tax Section
Croydon Council
Taberner House
Park Lane
Croydon
CR9 3JS