Council Tax - Charged after graduation date

thebogbrush

I need a bit of advice guys, basically I graduated from university at the end of July 2008 and was staying in student accomadation. The thing is that my tenancy was from mid September 2008 until September 2009. I had no choice but to take out a 12 month tenancy.

Now I have received a letter from the council summoing me to court at the end of the month for not paying council tax for the period of June until September, the reason being is that my course had finished therefore I was classed as unemployed and liable to pay council tax.

Do I have an arguement? Is there anything I can do? I wasn't living in the property from the period after my graduation, the estate agents for the property know that, but the council reckon that because I was still paying for rent for that period, I have to pay. I think it is a liberty, and is a bit of a scam. It is extremely difficult to get a tenancy until when the graduation date is so in my opinion, it is a extremely flawed system.

Please give me some advice on where I stand, and what I can do, if anything, to avoid paying the fees.

Cheers
Dan

MrsManda

The council have every right to request payment. However there are certain exemptions dependent on type of property, people living there etc...
A list of exemptions are published HERE
You won't have to pay the full council tax either way - a single person you'll get a 25% discount.
HTH

blue_ashleigh

My friend had the same problem but had to give them the money. If you were paying the rent then you have to pay council tax.

melancholly

i'd try and pay and avoid a court date tbh - some councils are more militant than others on this... although i don't think you can be expected to pay until after graduation.

Oldernotwiser

It's your choice to leave a property you've paid rent on empty. If you can afford to do this you can afford to pay the council tax.

melancholly

just had a thought - i assume they will be charging you based on the dates on your council tax exemption certificate from your uni. so if those are the dates you were given, it's a bit late now....

LittleMissAspie

Why is it a liberty and a scam? You were renting the property as a non-student. That makes you liable for council tax.

CIS

The Council are correct, Council Tax discounts/exemptions will end when you cease to be a student.

If the property was un-occupied and furnished then the council should have applied an discount of between 50% and 10%(depending on the council), if it was unfurnished then a Class C exemption is applicable for a maximum of 6 months.

Oldernotwiser

CIS wrote: »

If the property was un-occupied and furnished then the council should have applied an discount of between 50% and 10%(depending on the council), if it was unfurnished then a Class C exemption is applicable for a maximum of 6 months.

Some councils don't give any discounts for empty, furnished properties. Always worth asking though.

Fire_Fox

thebogbrush wrote: »

I need a bit of advice guys, basically I graduated from university at the end of July 2008 and was staying in student accomadation. The thing is that my tenancy was from mid September 2008 until September 2009. I had no choice but to take out a 12 month tenancy.

Now I have received a letter from the council summoing me to court at the end of the month for not paying council tax for the period of June until September, the reason being is that my course had finished therefore I was classed as unemployed and liable to pay council tax.

Do I have an arguement? Is there anything I can do? I wasn't living in the property from the period after my graduation, the estate agents for the property know that, but the council reckon that because I was still paying for rent for that period, I have to pay. I think it is a liberty, and is a bit of a scam. It is extremely difficult to get a tenancy until when the graduation date is so in my opinion, it is a extremely flawed system.

Please give me some advice on where I stand, and what I can do, if anything, to avoid paying the fees.

Cheers
Dan

Have you got your years mixed up? Cos the above does not make sense. Were you paying council tax elsewhere? Did you advise the council that the property was empty at the time or did you just not pay? The council want someone to pay the council tax or to declare an exemption. As the tenant you are responsible for doing one or the other.

kelloggs36

Were you signing on as unemployed? Can you not get exemption because of this now?