Unpaid rent ?

[V83500]

Hi
My question is difficult. My small company rented from the local council an industrial unit some 4 years ago we rented another the second unit was originally on a 6 months tenancy direct debits were set up and rent paid on time and in full.After the 6 months elapsed the council stopped invoicing us and stopped taking the rent I never noticed as far as i was aware everything had continued as before.Some 30 months later my accountant asked if we still had the second unit and told me we had not been invoiced or paid any rent.his advice was sit tight they may never notice which they never did I did eventually I informed the council of there mistake They have since on a single invoice invoiced me for 41 months rent Question is how do I stand ?I am not in a lease and the invoice for the rent is in my name not the company's

[ash72]

Now that you have informed them, i'm surprised why you aren't paying them of the mistake? What type of agreement did you have with the council as I can't believe it would have been a verbal one with no paperwork. If it was a lease, most leases have a clause stating the rent is due regardless if it has been demanded.

If you decide not to pay, the Council can take you to court for the payment and since it's in your name, they can recover the money from you by bailiffs, if you don't have any assets/ money then they could put a CCJ against you or bankrupt you depending on the amount. If you go to court you could suggest to pay an amount you can afford, until the debt is fully settled. I personally would talk to the council and negotiate a payment plan without going to court and the stress which comes with it.