Renting a room in a house full of students. What are the Council Tax implications?

Sandwich

I'm a part-time student looking to rent a room in a house full of full-time postgrad students. Because they are all full-time students I presume they don't pay any Council Tax whatsoever. What then happens when I move in?

Does that mean that the whole property suddenly becomes liable for CT, or is it just me that has to pay?

beckythemadcow

Just you, but you would get the Single Person discount.

bryanb

Yes you'd pay 75%

Sandwich

Thanks for the information, Becky and Bryan. So I'd just get my own personal CT bill?

Also, the job I'm about to start only lasts for 3 months. If I'm not able to find work straight away once that job finishes, will I still be able to apply for CT benefit just like any other person?

BeenieCat

You'd get the bill for the whole house, with a 25% discount... I'm guessing it will be a high band if it's a big student residence so will cost a fortune.

HappyMJ

Everyone would be jointly and severably liable for the bill although the other occupants would be exempt if only they lived there. Stupid rule really. There should really be individual bills for multi-occupancy houses. Normally the landlord of a multi occupancy house would pay it so you could go to council and say you are not responsible for it and they will bill the landlord but then everyone's rent would go up.

Sandwich

Well now I'm confused. So if there's 4 students in the house, who would all be exempt individually, if one non-student moves in, then everyone has to pay CT?

If so, do they each have to pay the full rate, or is it one full rate bill for the whole house, split 5 ways?

BeenieCat

Sandwich wrote: »

Well now I'm confused. So if there's 4 students in the house, who would all be exempt individually, if one non-student moves in, then everyone has to pay CT?

If so, do they each have to pay the full rate, or is it one full rate bill for the whole house, split 5 ways?

No, you have to pay their share yourself. So one full rate bill for the house, for you - but you get a single persons discount of 25%.

HappyMJ

Sandwich wrote: »

Well now I'm confused. So if there's 4 students in the house, who would all be exempt individually, if one non-student moves in, then everyone has to pay CT?

If so, do they each have to pay the full rate, or is it one full rate bill for the whole house, split 5 ways?

You would have a job trying to convince the other occupiers to pay the bill. If you do start trying to convince them then expect to be asked to leave. It's not split ever....it's always jointly and severably liable. If you don't pay it they have to pay it and if they have to pay it they will ask you to leave so they have no further liability.

rpc

The house would become subject to council tax and would be billed with you as the liable person.

Although there is joint and several liability for all occupiers at the same position in the hierarchy of liability, no liability can attach to any student when a non-student is resident. i.e. you will be the only person liable. The rules changed in 2004 to stop students being liable for council tax when a non-student moved in.

It sounds like it could be an HMO, where liability rests with the landlord.

bryanb

Sandwich wrote: »

Well now I'm confused. So if there's 4 students in the house, who would all be exempt individually, if one non-student moves in, then everyone has to pay CT?

If so, do they each have to pay the full rate, or is it one full rate bill for the whole house, split 5 ways?

You need to understand that CT is levied on the house, not individuals. Only the non exempt occupiers are liable, either the full rate if more than one, or 25% discount if only one person is liable.