Council tax - 25% off?

frostyspice

Could anyone please tell me whether my household (me, my working husband and 2 very small children) will be able to get 25% off Council Tax when I start my PGCE?

I've been searching for an answer but can't find one!

It would make such a difference to us financially that it seems too good to be true!

kittiwoz

Basically all full time students are exempt from Council Tax. Since you'll be exempt your husband will be the sole liable adult and eligible for a single person's discount of 25%.

I think it is a really stupid system. It is good for someone in your situation where all the adults in the house share income and bills so it's essentially a 25% discount on a household bill, particularly if you own the house. However it has a bad effect on a lot of recent graduates who live in shared accomodation with student friends since they can end up paying 75% of the council tax calculated on a five bedroom house, even though they only pay rent on and use a 1/6 share of the house and it isn't even their asset. Not that that's your fault. It's just a little galling to hear you describe it as "too good to be true" when I got the fuzzy end of the lollipop last Summer. I do realise that wasn't intentional though and it's not you I'm annoyed at, you don't make the stupid rules. Rant over. Sorry about that.

frostyspice

kittiwoz wrote:

... It's just a little galling to hear you describe it as "too good to be true" when I got the fuzzy end of the lollipop last Summer. I do realise that wasn't intentional though and it's not you I'm annoyed at, you don't make the stupid rules. Rant over. Sorry about that.

That's ok. I meant it would be too good to be true for my personal situation. I totally understand about what happened to you being a graduate sharing with students. That really is a bummer!