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Do I still have to pay Council tax?

Do I still have to pay council tax if I'm a student with the OU? I'm hoping to go to uni next year and I've heard I don't have to pay council tax then.

Thanks
Squidge
It's not WHAT you know, it's WHO you know

Comments

  • You don't have to pay council tax if you are a full time student or doing at least 21 hours a week of study (somehow on OH certificate it specifies 21 hours). The Uni has to issue you with a certificate, and make sure that you call the Council to confirm you status, they tend to "forget" that you are a student... We had to pay our council tax upfront and be refunded later, no interest paid though...
    I'm not sure how it works out with the OU.
    You could do any type of course and still be considered for student discount. It's 25% off if there are other non-students living with you. But if both you and your partner are students, or all the people living under the same roof are students then you don't pay council tax.
  • kittiwoz
    kittiwoz Posts: 1,321 Forumite
    It's only 25% off if there is only one non-student adult living there and it is they who get the discount and are liable for the other 75%. The student/students are not liable for any council tax. If there are several people resident at the house who are not full time students then the student will be exempt and the non-students will be liable for the full amount between them.
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    correspondence courses are specifically excluded from the rules reagrding students, regardless of whether the relevenat uni classes you as full time or not: Iam a council tax officer and an OU student and one of the first things I did was to check the rules.

    technically, if there are only students living in a property, one of them has to be made liable, even though no council tax is actually paid - its in order that an account and bills can be generated, but if there is a non student in the property, then unless they can be disregarded for another reason, they are solely liable for the council tax due.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • Crazyangel
    Crazyangel Posts: 1,472 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    Great - my friend was asking excatly the same question the other day but we didn't know the answer ! Thanks guys ! :D

    Wins : McCains garden games set, 2xTickets to Alton Towers, Links of London friendship bracelet, 2xIdeal Home Show tickets, McFly album CD, Virgin Balloon flight for 2 with a case of ScrumpyJack cider and 2 ltd edition jackets, Powerboat racing experience, £50 Virgin voucher, Aerobie Pro flying ring & Rice Krispie squares, Tesco baby pack
    :j
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