Council Tax for student on placement year

shopndrop

Does anyone know if a student who is on a placement year has to pay council tax in a private rented property?

Butlers1982

All you need to do is ensure you have a valid Student certificate which you can obtain from your university. You'll probably have to take your tenancy agreement to the university to show them your residency. One you have your certificate, just take it into your local authority and they will exempt your council tax bill for the duration of your tenancy or student certificate(or which ever is shorter)
This is presuming your a full time student studying for at least 25 hours per week

shopndrop

My son will be in his 3rd year of a 4 year course, but the 3rd year will be working full time, although he will still be paying half tuition fees for the year as I understand it, so for next year, he will not be studying for 25 hours per week, presumably will not be exempt.

Bossyboots

My son got the exemption when he did his work placement. He was in private rented property and obtained the certificate from the university as explained above. The university issue loads of these every year, they will know exactly what he needs and give it to him.

In addition, our son was still covered under our home contents insurance because the placement was solely part of his university course. He worked full time as well.

Crispy_Ambulance

If you are registered on a full time course and haven't withdrawn from or abandoned it, then you are exempt from paying council tax. Placement students are still registered on a full time course, so should still be exempt. If you have any problems with local authorities, contact your students union advice centre who will be used to arguing the case with them!

shopndrop

The above replies have been so helpful. Thaks to all.

lellie

our university has a page on the website where you request the form - they send it out automatically. You can get one when on placement as you're still a registered student and still have access to all university services.

Sillychuckie

It depends on other things though...
On my placement, I lived in a house with 6 others. They were all workers and no longer students. We all paid the same amount directly to the landlord etc.

The fact I had a council tax exemption form was irrelevant. The landlord wouldn't accept any less rent from me and stated that with all the other people Im living with being non students, he couldn't get it any cheaper by passing the form onto the government...
So, in the end, I just accepted it and paid what everyone else paid.

If you live on your own though, (or with other students), then yep, it should be easy for you to get yourself out of paying.

shopndrop

My son will be living with 3 other students from his course, so hopefully no problems with getting necessary paperwork.

Butlers1982

All be aware though if there are a few people there and you have locks on your bedroom door, its worth speaking to the local authority, as they may class the house as a HIMO(house in multi occupancy) and then it is the landlords responsibility to pay the council tax.Although he gets around this by upping the rent!

kar

If they are all students then just get the council tax exemption certificate from student services and post them off to the council when the c/tax bill arrives. Placement students are still classed as students.