Council tax bill question

katmellarkz

Hi!

So I've been sharing a house with a student, meaning I had to pay the council tax myself but had a reduction.
She has not been going to uni because of health issues and will therefore not be counted as a student any more starting this month for deferring meaning the council tax bill will be in full.
This means that logically, both of us will have to share the bill, right? as she will be counted as a regular adult even though she's not working.
Then starting in January she will be receiving benefits because of her health issues so it will go back to me paying a reduced council tax but for that month in between she will have to pay, correct?

I'm asking because when she explained it to me it sounded like she said I'll have to pay the full council tax myself for that month which doesn't sound right at all and I don't know if I understand wrong because I'm from France... Thank you!

CIS

This means that logically, both of us will have to share the bill, right? as she will be counted as a regular adult even though she's not working.

It depends if she has formerly finished her course or has been allowed some time of for medical reasons - if she remains registered as a full time student then the remains disregarded and the bill stays in your name.

Then starting in January she will be receiving benefits because of her health issues so it will go back to me paying a reduced council tax but for that month in between she will have to pay, correct?

The fact she receives council tax support does not stop her being jointly liable for the entire council tax charge with you (although she can only receive a maximum of 50% of the council tax paid for her).

katmellarkz

No, she will stop being counted as a full time student which is why the council tax bill will be full price starting this month. (Earlier this year she was still registered as a full time student even though she did not go to any classes because of her health.)
So I gather from your answers that she will have to split the bill with me then?

John_Ma

I would have thought she did have to pay. The fact that it is in full means there are two people in the property that should be paying council tax. Otherwise it would have continued at your discounted rate.

katmellarkz

Okay, thank you. I will talk to her about this then.

katmellarkz

So I've spoken with my housemate. She explained she is not considered a full time student anymore but a 'suspended student'. She is still a student but doesn't have the paperwork yet because she's changing status. Which is why the council tax will be in full.

Still, she is trying to make me pay it all by myself as technically she is a student. BUT I don't think this is fair at all. It's not my fault that she doesn't have the paperwork yet for this month. She will be considered as an adult in the eyes of the law so I should not have to pay the full tax on my own. We should split as for this month she is counted as an adult by the council.

I sent her a message to tell her that. We'll see what she says but this is getting on my nerves!

G_M

katmellarkz wrote: »

Hi!

So I've been sharing a house with a student, meaning I....

Are you joint tenants?

Are you an owner-occupier with a lodger?

Do you have two separate tenancies?

And yes, I agree- she is either a council tax exempt student, or she is not. She cannot claim to be both!

CIS

Still, she is trying to make me pay it all by myself as technically she is a student.

She can be a student and not attending university, that may be the problem. If she has left the course temporarily due to illness then they can still keep her registered and treat her as a full time student for council tax purposes.

If she is no longer registered as a full time student then she is now jointly liable for the council tax.

katmellarkz

I have spoken with her. She explained that because she is too poorly and can claim benefits due to her illness, the uni put her as a 'suspended student' for the period in between her being a full time student and her getting the paperwork done saying she is unfit to work. Because she can't claim benefits for being unfit to work while at the same time being a full time student. So really, it's just a matter of her not having the proper paperwork as of now to show to the council saying she is a full time student as she is now 'suspended'. But come January, she will be registered has unfit for work and thus the council tax won't be in full any more.

I don't know if this makes sense or not!

ValHaller

If OP 'has to pay' full council tax, then obviously said student is not a student for council tax purposes and should pay her fair share.

DRP

ValHaller wrote: »

If OP 'has to pay' full council tax, then obviously said student is not a student for council tax purposes and should pay her fair share.

Yes exactly this.

If the council tax rules say your household can no longer get the discount then she must pay her share.