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Council Tax

I'm the sole tenant on my tenancy agreement but have a lodger (landlord is aware) who is claiming housing benefits for his share of the rent. Is the council tax bill less 25% and his liability?

Comments

  • shjo558
    shjo558 Posts: 1,550 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Your tenant will receive Council Tax Benefit for his 50% share of the Council Tax bill and you will still have your 50% to pay.
  • Allan87
    Allan87 Posts: 465 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Sorry I forgot to add I have student exemption too.
  • fluffymovie
    fluffymovie Posts: 1,417 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    The tenant is not a liable party for the Ctax as the tenancy is in your name so they wouldn't be able to claim council tax benefit

    However, not sure how you stand if you have a student exemption but CIS is usually great at this sort of thing and I am sure, will be along shortly
    I currently manage a Housing Benefit service and have been working in Housing / council tax benefit (as was) since 2001.

    All views expressed in my posts are my own opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    The lodger is not liable for council tax and cannot claim council tax benefit . Even though your a student, you have the highest interest (as the resident tenant) in the property and so would be the person responsible for paying the council tax. You would get a 25% discount.
    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.
  • paddedjohn
    paddedjohn Posts: 7,512 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    CIS wrote: »
    The lodger is not liable for council tax and cannot claim council tax benefit . Even though your a student, you have the highest interest (as the resident tenant) in the property and so would be the person responsible for paying the council tax. You would get a 25% discount.

    is the 25% discount not for single occupancy?
    Be Alert..........Britain needs lerts.
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    No - if there are two occupiers and one is disregarded (eg. F/T student) then there is only one occupier counted for council tax purposes and a 25% discount applies.
    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.
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