UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hello I have started working in an office in Northern Ireland where the boss is a landlord of five properties and I have been asked to take control of them and the tenants.

I have found out that due to a misunderstanding between the landlord and his "agent" (a close relative) two of the tenants have never contributed towards the rates bill.

I would like to ask:

In the event that the agreements they have signed definitely say their rent is £400 plus they should pay all rates without specifying the amount of the rates, they have then set up standing orders in their banks for just the £400.

We should have been informing them of the amount for rates and through no fault of their own they have never paid it.

The landlord would like to contact them and tell them about the rates, which is fine as this is the new tax year and the rates demands have just arrived in the office for the forthcoming year, but he would also like to backdate for last year as well. I feel this is unfair. If they pay it off over a year it is an extra £50 on top of the £50 they would be paying for THIS year jumping their monthly outgoing from £400 to £500.

Is he entitled to back date? I think he probably has the right to ask, but the fact we never specified the amount means that morally he shouldn't.

Should we ask a solicitor to handle this?

I welcome any input

SUSAN