Council Tax Question

Groucho3Zeppo3

To all moneysaving experts!

I've hit a bit of a brick wall with a problem I'm having and hope someone can help!

I'm a 5th year medical student studying in Torbay Hospital. I am currently residing in the hospital accommodation in a mix with doctors, physios, other students etc. Now I pay the same rent as everyone else even though I'm not supposed to pay council tax (as I'm a full time student). Surely there's something wrong with this and I'm entitled to pay less rent?

The accommodation service has told me that as the trust owns the whole site (including the accommodation buildings) they pay council tax on all their buildings, therefore no-one pays extra for council tax. However surely as I do not need to pay this anyway I'm due a rebate or something?

My friend who's in a similiar situation in Exeter hospital pays less rent than the doctors and thats saving him ~£800 this year so this would be a massive saving of money.

Can anyone lend any insight into this? I (and my wallet!) would be extremely grateful if you could..

Thanks,

Tommy

FunnySaving

I would be surprised if the hospital could be forced to charge lower rent to students - your friend clearly lives in accommodation which has separate rates for students, but you don't which presumably you knew when you moved in. Is your bill for rent split into constituent parts, one of which is specifically council tax?

fluffnutter

You need to take it up with the hospital, but, legally speaking, they can pretty much charge you what they like. If you're unhappy with their response (who knows; they might reduce your rent!), then your best action, should you want to take it further, would be to get together with all the students in the same situation in your accommodation. You need to present a concerted argument that this penalises all students, not just yourself.

It's worth bearing in mind that, should they accept your argument and reduce rents for students but choose to keep their profit margins the same, then the rents for all non-students will go up. You might be perfectly happy knowing you're morally right, but it's worth considering what it might do to your relationships with those that share your accommodation and are now paying more rent thanks to you!

Oliver14

Why would you think you should pay less rent because your Council Tax exempt? It's up to the Hospital what rents they charge and just because other tenants who aren't exempt don't pay it due to the Trust covering it does not mean you are due a rebate. it just means the other tenants are very lucky. If a fuss was made in all liklihood all that would happen is that those who weren't exempt would the get charged. They are unlikely to put your rent down.

Put your time into something more useful like your studies.

fluffnutter

When you qualify (particularly if you choose general practice) you're going to be amongst the top earners in the country. You'll get the money back then!

Hintza

Time to move into private rental accomodation then you won't hav eto pay it? That would show them.

Hmm

But I guess the rent would cost more and you would be worse off.

Don't rock the boat and be grateful you have sneaked though the system before all the fee increases come through.

Freddie_Snowbits

fluffnutter wrote: »

When you qualify (particularly if you choose general practice) you're going to be amongst the top earners in the country. You'll get the money back then!

Oi, do not take the Words out of Freddie's mouth.

On a note, I thought that as NHS Students (except Student Nursed) are effectively paid for their training, they are not treated the same as other full time students whose income is limited.

mountainofdebt

As far as I know, medical students (ie trainee doctors) are treated the same as anyother undergraduate i.e welcome to the world of student loans and grants and being supplemented by mum and dad.

Students of professions allied to medicine (such as radiographers,physiotherapists) also get student loans but i think the NHS contributes to the cost of their training.

OP - as far as your delima is concerned could it be exeter hospital is in a different hospital trust than you and so are unlucky that he is subsidised and he isn't?

Groucho3Zeppo3

Mountainofdebts right, we don't get paid for the course, just treated like every other student. Thanks for all the replies guys and girls, looks like theres no easy way out!
Cheers