letting for a student + one non student

JamesN

Hi, moving in with my girlfriend in september, which will be the start of my last year at university.

We are looking for a single bedroom house/flat in the earlsdon area of coventry. Basically, we've not done anything like this before so are pretty clueless. To add to the confusion, im a student and she is not.

So what i'd like to know is, what benefits are available to us and what additional costs are going to be incurred. I heard we would most likely have to pay some form of council tax but at a reduced rate? Also i heard we're not entitled as we havent been living there 3 years or something, which i find ridiculous. However, i don't know how reliable these claims are.

Thanks for all your help.

James

Soot2006

You'll be paying 75% of standard council tax ....

Not sure about any benefits -- will depend on many other things!

longtimelurker_2

Has she got a job?

If not, has she been a student? Does she have NI contributions on her record?

You'll get a 25% reduction for you being a student, but you'll get diddly squat else if she's working, and if she's not it will depend on whether her claim would be income assessed (they would take your loan as income so she'd be looking at a few pounds a week) or not.

Caz3121

you are probably not entitled to means tested benefits as they will count the amount you would get from student loans etc as capital (whether you take them or not)

barnaby-bear

JamesN wrote: »

Hi, moving in with my girlfriend in september, which will be the start of my last year at university.

We are looking for a single bedroom house/flat in the earlsdon area of coventry. Basically, we've not done anything like this before so are pretty clueless. To add to the confusion, im a student and she is not.

So what i'd like to know is, what benefits are available to us and what additional costs are going to be incurred. I heard we would most likely have to pay some form of council tax but at a reduced rate? Also i heard we're not entitled as we havent been living there 3 years or something, which i find ridiculous. However, i don't know how reliable these claims are.

Thanks for all your help.

James

You might be limited by the rental credit check basically 30xmonthly rent will have to be less than her annual salary (but coventry so quite likely you'll be ok ). It might help with agencies if she says you are a mature student (vague term). Unlikely without kids especially if under 26 to be entitled to anything - the NUS site has lots of info on financial support and benefits (although without kids/disability unlikely)
http://www.nus.org.uk/en/Student-Life/Money-And-Funding/Students-Income-Tax-and-National-Insurance/

JamesN

thanks guys, for info on her, she used to be a student for a year but dropped out because she didnt enjoy it, and since then shes been working for a bout 12k per year.

tbs624

For clarification, provided that you have an exemption certificate from your University, then your GF would be treated as being entitled to the single occupancy rate for Council Tax purposes. You can check benefit entitlement here

Try contacting the local LL association for LLs who self- manage their properties - they are likely to only charge you the credit check fees rather than the many admin fees that LAs will charge.

Bear in mind that you will be signing up to one contract with joint & several liability so if either of you is unable to meet the rent obligations etc the LL can look to the other to pay up in full .

Have a look up at the top of the HBR&S board for the "sticky" guide for new renters on things to be aware of.

roxalana

Also if you are living with your girlfriend and you are over 25 your finance will be assessed according to her income. If she is earning £12k/year you should get the full amount I think. You could try applying for adult dependant grant with student loans if they still do that but I don't think you will qualify for it.

border_collie

No council tax payable by students. At all, anywhere.

Girlfriend will have to pay 75% as a single person living there.