Claiming back council tax

Bella01

Hi everyone,

I am a student, and therefore exempt from paying council tax. My prospective landlord will let me stay, as long as I do pay council tax. Obviously, this is not ideal. I'm wondering whether it is possible pay him, but then claim this money back from the council, seeing as I technically shouldn't be paying it.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

corsagirl_2

Why would you want to pay?? If you are living in the property by yourself then you'll be exempt anyway and you don't have to pay. Or is the landlord saying that you'll be liable for any Council Tax due? You won't be able to claim anything from the Council if you pay the landlord.

Bella01

It's a shared house. The two other girls are young professionals, therefore we would not be exempt from council tax. The council tax works out as 30 quid a month per person. However, you get the benefit of living with people who have actual jobs, and therefore the house would not just be an endless party zone. Don't know what's for the best. Living alone is expensive.

corsagirl_2

Sorry, you won't be able to claim anything from the Council in these circumstances.

CIS

I am a student, and therefore exempt from paying council tax. My prospective landlord will let me stay, as long as I do pay council tax. Obviously, this is not ideal. I'm wondering whether it is possible pay him, but then claim this money back from the council, seeing as I technically shouldn't be paying it.

Legally you have no liability for council tax however it seems in this case that the L/L wants the tenants to arrnage payment 3 ways. This is a regular occurrence in house shares where people split any council tax due between them in the same way as any other bill.

At the end of the day how you split the payments is between you and the other occupiers but whatever happens the council cannot pursue for any payments that aren't made.

Bella01

CIS wrote: »

Legally you have no liability for council tax however it seems in this case that the L/L wants the tenants to arrnage payment 3 ways. This is a regular occurrence in house shares where people split any council tax due between them in the same way as any other bill.

At the end of the day how you split the payments is between you and the other occupiers but whatever happens the council cannot pursue for any payments that aren't made.

I don't understand why my landlord can't just notify the council that a student is living there- it seems to be an easy process.

'whatever happens the council cannot pursue for any payments that aren't made.' What do you mean by this?

noh

Bella01 wrote: »

I don't understand why my landlord can't just notify the council that a student is living there- it seems to be an easy process.

'whatever happens the council cannot pursue for any payments that aren't made.' What do you mean by this?

Because you will be living in a house with two non students the full amount of council tax is due.
If the landlord notified the council that a student was living there it would have no effect on the amount of council tax due.

As CIS says it is just another household bill to be split 3 ways.

An explanation here:-
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/LifeAtUniversityOrCollege/DG_071488

CIS

'whatever happens the council cannot pursue for any payments that aren't made.' What do you mean by this?

If there are other people who would be equally liable (i.e other tenants) then a student cannot be held liable for the council tax due and the liability falls on the other tenants to pay.