Are we entitled to council tax discount?

KaratePigeon

Hi,
I work full time, but my partner is a full time student (though he works part time). He has completed 2 years of uni and has just started the 3rd year. About a year ago I found out I might be entitled to a 25% discount on our council tax bill as he is a student and I work full time - is this correct?

I filled in a form and sent it off to the council but they ignored it. I know I should have chased it up at the time but I sort of forgot and then got very busy etc. Anyway, firstly, are we entitled to any discount this year? And secondly do we have any chance of claiming back some of what we've paid for the last 2 years, if so how do we go about this.

Thanks.

hatewashingmachines

There are some general rules on council tax but it really depends on where you live, use this link to find out more http://local.direct.gov.uk/LDGRedirect/index.jsp?LGSL=59&LGIL=8&ServiceName=Find

Oldernotwiser

Your partner will need to get proof of his/her student status from the university to send to the council.

currynchips

Yes, as students don't count as a person under council tax rules, and properties occupied by only 1 person get a 25% discount.

Donniedodo

KaratePigeon wrote: »

Hi,
I work full time, but my partner is a full time student (though he works part time). He has completed 2 years of uni and has just started the 3rd year. About a year ago I found out I might be entitled to a 25% discount on our council tax bill as he is a student and I work full time - is this correct?

Yep, you should be getting the 25% single occupancy discount, since there is only one person living there who is deemed required to pay council tax (since your partner is exempt as a full time student).

You will need some sort of 'certificate of attendance' from the uni to send to the council. I vaguely remember mine having the dates of my whole course on it, so it wasn't just valid for a year and they've just sent us a new bill each year with the discount applied. I'm not sure about backdating it, since we (luckily) knew about the discount when we moved in together.

Check your local council's website, there may be a form there to print off to send in with the certificate of attendance.

(On a side note can I thank you for posting this, it's reminded me to call my mum and make sure she applies for this since my brother has just gone back to college full time. )

KaratePigeon

Thanks for the replies.
I found an online form on the council website and just filled that in. I have a feeling it was what I did last year though which they ignored so I will try harder this time and chase it up if I don't hear anything!

It's worth doing as we'd save £25 a month, will have to ask them about getting it backdated too.

TrickyNiki

I am in the same position as yourself, except I am the student and my partner works full time. The university/college should be able to produce a council tax exemption certificate o request (although some like mine post it out automatically).

Get your partner to get this certificate from where he studies it is them a matter of sending a copy to the council. (you could also see if they will produce certificates for previous years, this may help in getting your money back)

MrsManda

When a student enrolls on a course they usually get a statement of student status which is basically a piece of paper saying that the university now classes you as officially enrolled. This should be enough evidence for your council tax.

dag_2

You will need some sort of 'certificate of attendance' from the uni to send to the council.

Yeah, I've never quite understood this. After all, if you were living on your own in a flat, you'd also qualify for the 25% discount, but I don't think you have to provide any kind of "certificate of attendance" or other document to prove that the other person doesn't actually exist; generally they just take your word for it.

One thing that's important to understand is that just because a full time student is exempt from council tax, doesn't mean that liabilities to pay council tax can't be pinned on students.

For example, in the event of a tenant who takes in a lodger, it's the tenant whose name appears on the tenancy agreement for the whole self-contained unit who is liable for the council tax that arises from whoever lives there.

This means that if you're a tenant who would normally get a single person discount, you lose that discount if you take in a lodger who isn't a student - but you still keep the discount if the lodger is a student.

Similarly, if you're a student tenant, then provided that all the lodgers you take in are also full time students who are exempt, then you won't have to pay any council tax. However, if you take in a lodger who is not a student, then you will be the one who is held liable for the council tax - not your lodger. Take in one such lodger and you pay 75%, take two or more and you pay 100%. Be aware of the risk that lodgers might be students when they first move in, but drop out of their courses - or graduate - before they move out again.

A person who is a tenant in accommodation who is not self-contained - that is, a bedsit, flatshare, or who is themselves a lodger who shares a kitchen or bathroom with landlord, will not normally be held liable for council tax.