Two bedroom flat. One worker, one student ? Council tax

gfplux

Sorry a bit complicated. One for the experts not looking for an opinion.
My daughter is looking for a flat share in London. She is a student.
Students are exempt from council tax.
The other person in the potential TWO household flat is working.
So what are the council tax implications?
Three possibilitys
1) Two bedroom flat, occupied by two professionals (workers) so council tax 100% divided by two. Simple
2) Same property occupied by one person, then entitled to single occupancy discount of 25%.
3) Same property occupied by one professional and one student who is exempt,???
In three it has been suggested to my daughter that the professional Will pay more council tax than if she shared in example 1)

So do the experts agree and if so, is there a work around.
Thanks

Lokolo

If there are only 2 occupants, 1 being your student daughter, then the other occupier will be paying 75% (25% single person discount) and your daughter is liable for nothing.

However, usually in a flat share you would half the bills, so your daughter may be asked to contribute, even though she doesn't have to (from the councils point of view).

(oh and nice book in your signature, good read)

00ec25

technically the student is a "disregard" since she is exempt. Thus the "worker" gets to claim SPD so has to pay the council 75% of the charge

there is no easy solution which is fair to either party
it could end up being more expensive for the worker if they pay the full 75% instead of 50% if there were 2 workers or
"unfair" to the student who may have to contribute towards the 75% when they are in fact exempt and should not pay at all

gfplux

Thanks all, great If unwelcome info.

dancingfairy

The above are correct assuming she is a full time student (as defined by the council). This means that the course has to be a certain number of weeks, has to be at a recognised establishment etc etc. If in doubt double check - as far as I can remember Master students don't qualify (and PHd students definitley don't), summer schools etc don't count either I think.
Assuming she is a 'full time' college/uni student she should go to the registrar etc and ask for a certificate to provide to the council. She should also keep a copy! Some colleges/unis are more on the ball than others.
df

tbs624

It is as Lokolo and 00ec25 say, if your daughter counts as a student for CT purposes.

However, your daughter may want to work out whether it would be cheaper to share this property and agree to pay 25% towards the other sharer's 75% CT bill ( thus bringing it in line with what the other sharer would have to pay if sharing with another working flatmate), when compared to other available properties. One of my offspring chose this option.

marcssteve

If someone is a student and is not a worker then he is liable to pay just 25% of the total cost of the room rent. The remaining 75% will be paid by the worker. It now depends upon the number of workers who live with the student. If its just one then he will have to bear out, rest of the expenses.

19lottie82

marcssteve wrote: »

If someone is a student and is not a worker then he is liable to pay just 25% of the total cost of the room rent. The remaining 75% will be paid by the worker. It now depends upon the number of workers who live with the student. If its just one then he will have to bear out, rest of the expenses.

Sorry, this doesn't make sense?

katejo

dancingfairy wrote: »

The above are correct assuming she is a full time student (as defined by the council). This means that the course has to be a certain number of weeks, has to be at a recognised establishment etc etc. If in doubt double check - as far as I can remember Master students don't qualify (and PHd students definitley don't), summer schools etc don't count either I think.
Assuming she is a 'full time' college/uni student she should go to the registrar etc and ask for a certificate to provide to the council. She should also keep a copy! Some colleges/unis are more on the ball than others.
df

Why do you say that masters students don't qualify? if they are full time students they should as far as i know. I have also never heard any previous reference to PhD students having to pay either.

tbs624

katejo wrote: »

Why do you say that masters students don't qualify? if they are full time students they should as far as i know. I have also never heard any previous reference to PhD students having to pay either.

My bolding

A couple of links on this one

http://www.npc.org.uk/campaigns/PostgraduateCouncilTax.pdf

and

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-12922767

If you follow the Judge Corner's reasoning in the latter link then it could probably be argued that those studying with the OU ought to be eligible for a CT exemption.

CIS

Master students don't qualify (and PHd students definitley don't)

Full time masters and Phd students now qualify - pre May 2011 many Phd students didn't.

If you follow the Judge Corner's reasoning in the latter link then it could probably be argued that those studying with the OU ought to be eligible for a CT exemption.

They do providing you can meet the hours requirement (I have a disregard for my wife)