Hi,
I wonder can someone give me some advise on an issue I have with business rates.
I recently relocated my business as a trader and signed up on a lease on a premises. No probs there got a good deal on the lease. So here goes the prob.
I got a bill for almost €5,000 on outstanding rates for previous tenants whereby I went to the Council and put my case forward to them. Silly me, they said it was my problem and I will have to pay or they will take legal action. So I went back to the owner of the premises and he told me the previous tenants were a registered charity. When I went back to the Council they told me I would have to get the charity's details and supply them to them as it was not their problem to persue previous tenants.
Fine but there was a gap in between my lease beginning and they leaving the premises of 5 months so the Council are insisting I pay the rates for this period. I spoke with the owner and he informed me he had supplied a letter to the Council stating when the premises became vacant and the Council are still insisting I pay these rates.
Does anyone have any ideas to help me out as the Council are now threatening to take legal action if I do not pay.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
I wonder can someone give me some advise on an issue I have with business rates.
I recently relocated my business as a trader and signed up on a lease on a premises. No probs there got a good deal on the lease. So here goes the prob.
I got a bill for almost €5,000 on outstanding rates for previous tenants whereby I went to the Council and put my case forward to them. Silly me, they said it was my problem and I will have to pay or they will take legal action. So I went back to the owner of the premises and he told me the previous tenants were a registered charity. When I went back to the Council they told me I would have to get the charity's details and supply them to them as it was not their problem to persue previous tenants.
Fine but there was a gap in between my lease beginning and they leaving the premises of 5 months so the Council are insisting I pay the rates for this period. I spoke with the owner and he informed me he had supplied a letter to the Council stating when the premises became vacant and the Council are still insisting I pay these rates.
Does anyone have any ideas to help me out as the Council are now threatening to take legal action if I do not pay.
Thanks in advance for any advice.