Student house but no longer a student!

bestpud

tomandkath wrote: »

My son and a bunch of his mates have signed a contract and paid a wacking deposit on a student house for next year (in theory year two of studies). However, he has now quit uni, but still hopes to live in the house with his mates. At what point would the landlord have checked that they were all students and therefore no council tax? At the point of contract or will he also at the beginning of the academic year? I can't see coming clean and paying the council tax for the entire house would be an option, but need to know if it's realistic for him to think he might live in the house or whether he needs to find someone else to take his place. Any advice, either from students or landlords would be really welcome!

dizzyrascal wrote: »

I was under the impression that this thread was to help him find out if CT would need to be paid and if it did, would he be better off getting someone else to take over his part of the letting agreement.
I did not, at any time, see anyone attempting to commit a deliberate fraud!
You clearly do.
I think that says more about you then about the actual request made by the op's Mum

Looks pretty clear to me - he is hoping the checks have already been done and he will be able to stay in the house.

The phrase 'coming clean' speaks volumes!

dizzyrascal

Gosh!
You really are Judge AND Jury.
Amazing.
I think his mum is trying to be clear on this so that she can help sort it out.
That seems pretty clear to me

bestpud

dizzyrascal wrote: »

Gosh!
You really are Judge AND Jury.
Amazing.
I think his mum is trying to be clear on this so that she can help sort it out.
That seems pretty clear to me

I wouldn't be making the decision so it doesn't really matter what I think, any more than it matters what you think.

antrobus

macman wrote: »

There is no need to take this issue to a student union or welfare office. It's been absurdly over-complicated, when the answer is perfectly straightforward. Unless the house is an HMO, the OP's son became fully liable for CT for the entire property either from the day he ceased to be a student, or the day his tenancy commenced, whichever is the latter. If he is the only person exempted in the property, CT will be payable minus the 25% single person discount. If he's failed to notify the LA of his change of status, then they will back-bill to the relevant date. If he doesn't pay, then eventually he will be summonsed.
His student pals will not be liable for anything, due to their student exemption, nor will the landlord have any responsibility for paying anything or administering anything.
If the OP's son is unemployed, on benefits or in receipt of CT benefit, then that is another matter entirely, but it doesn't remove his liability following the end of his student status.

That would be correct.

Oddly enough the OP posted the exact same question in the House Buying forum -
forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3882341
- where they received exactly the same answer, with the same HMO qualification. With the added benefit that there were no red herrings about joint and several liability etc.

hardtoexplain

macman wrote: »

There is no need to take this issue to a student union or welfare office

I advised this as the OPs son will be liable for rent, CT, bills etc and could potentially struggle with this his advice centre could offer support. Nothing to do with the CT really, just a nice idea for some support. They could also just quickly check the HMO thing, maybe give some advice of the best way to readvertise the room in case he can't afford it in that particular housing market etc. Just thinking of other things which may help while everyone squabbles.

Supercally07

If the council are on the ball they will get a list at the start of every year to check who is still a student. If he has to pay council tax it will be 75% of the full amount for the property. Could be quite an expensive one for him. Maybe try and get someone to take over the room before the second year kicks off.

CIS

They could also just quickly check the HMO thing,

Any determination on the HMO status needs to be made by the council but I haven't seen anything yet which suggests it is a HMO and as such he is liable for any council tax due.

macman

Surely the OP's son is capable of determining himself if the property he has rented is an HMO or a normal shared tenancy?