Student council tax exception on holiday homes

baxtersbuddy

Hello, as I only need to be on campus for a few months of the year (the rest is self-directed/placement), I was considering staying in a holiday chalet near campus for when I need to be there, then going back to my house when not. My only reservation is that council tax is about £2500 for the year, and the park does not allow it to be used as your main residence (which it wouldn't be - well under 50% of my time). So, can I use a student exemption on both properties I live in? Or can I choose which one? Since my house has non-students there is no advantage to the exemption, so it would be in my favour to be the liable council tax person in my non-main (caravan) residence.

Thought it would be a nice opportunity to save travel, plus earn a little by renting it out during the school holidays.

Hope this is clear. Any ideas?

tomtontom

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/Pages/sole-or-main-residence.aspx

This explains how the council decide where your main residence is. I can't see them accepting the holiday home as your main residence.

CIS

A Class N exemption can only be applied on a person's 'sole or main residence' - as you live in and intend to return to you 'home' then this would remain your 'sole or main residence.

Hello, as I only need to be on campus for a few months of the year (the rest is self-directed/placement),

What course are you doing ?

baxtersbuddy

Thanks, that is a big help even though it's not what I wanted to hear! Am I right in thinking that the 'cannot be your main residence' clause from the holiday camp is due to council tax? So it wouldn't be the case that I meet some definition of main residence but not others (e.g. that the council would define it as my main residence if I spent more time there than anywhere else, the camp would accept it is not my main residence if no single stay exceeded two weeks in any four).

I'm doing a PhD in education and my partner is doing an MA in music, and we'd be living near York.

DomRavioli

You seem to have grasped it there OP - holiday chalets aren't permanent homes if it is written in contract that it cannot be your main residence.

CIS

Am I right in thinking that the 'cannot be your main residence' clause from the holiday camp is due to council tax?

Many do have clauses for planning permission reasosn etc but whether the holiday camp considers it your main residence or not is evidence which could be considered in making a council tax determinations but it's not an overriding point ( any contract with then can't override council tax legislation).

baxtersbuddy

Thanks once again, I think based on this there's enough value in writing to the council with the specific details. I'll let you know what response I get!