student council tax question

cuzzy

Ok I have a quick question....

I am a student, and if I live with a non student, will I have to pay council tax?

If yes.....how much do I have to pay (hopefuly not the full amount)

Perversia

You will have to pay 75% of it if you send the council an excemption letter for yourself.

Crispy_Ambulance

If you are a full time student, you need to send a certificate of student status to the council. Students registered on a full time course do not have to pay any council tax.

The non student will get a 25% discount if they are the only liable adult - they may be able to claim council tax benefit.

cuzzy

So basically I can make the other pay all the council tax (which means 75% of the amount)

pinkshoes

cuzzy wrote: »

So basically I can make the other pay all the council tax (which means 75% of the amount)

Yes, you can make the other person pay the whole 75% of the council tax, but then it does seem a little unfair on them as if they lived with another working person, they'd only be paying 50%, so maybe, if you can afford it, you could offer a contribution towards their 75%!

I lived in a house with 3 working people and a student before, so the 3 of us working (who had signed a non-student tenancy agreement) were supposed to pay the council tax for a 4 bed house between us. Then, 1 of the girls declared that she didn't want to pay council tax as she was also a student (doing a working year from her french university and being paid the same as me and other girl), so 2 of us ended up paying it all!! Needless to say we didn't have much respect for this other girl!

peteman_2

I was a student living with one other student. We paid 75% of the council tax. But then I had a thought - and this may not be strictly legal so I can't advise - but I thought that if the house was entirely rented in my name, then effectively it would be occupied by 100% students, and we'd save about a grand for the year! - huh?

I havent given it any more thought than that tho cos worried that it is illegal!

bwgames

The rules are as follows:

Students are counted as disregarded persons for CT purposes.

Hence, student residents do NOT count as residents, and are NOT liable for council tax. The only people that the council can force to pay council tax are non-student residents and the landlord.

With regards to peteman: Why were you paying council tax if you were both students??? Also, the council can send revenue officers around to check who is living there.It is illegal as you are required by law to state *everyone* who is living there (even students), regardless of whether they are on the tenancy agreement.

Interesting fact: If a tenant was sub-letting their house/room out to someone else, in breach of their tenancy, the person in the house (the 'unauthorised' tenant) would be eligible for housing benefit , even though there was a breach of the 'master' letting contract.

holly_vegas

Hi all,
Sorry to jump on this thread but I am also in the same situation.
I am also a full time student from this September (ie now), have sent off my excemption certificate and received it back.
I only live with one other person also, who works and is not a student.
The council have told me that the exemption for council tax (as a student) only comes into effect from November (presumably I have to pay till then).
I was also told that the second person does not qualify for the single person discount (being the only person now paying council tax) as they do not allow two discounts to run at once.
Does anybody understand this or have any advice?
Thank-you
HV x
PS have jsut this second received my bill back, and they have not ammended the charge!

rose28454

holly_vegas wrote: »

Hi all,
Sorry to jump on this thread but I am also in the same situation.
I am also a full time student from this September (ie now), have sent off my excemption certificate and received it back.
I only live with one other person also, who works and is not a student.
The council have told me that the exemption for council tax (as a student) only comes into effect from November (presumably I have to pay till then).
I was also told that the second person does not qualify for the single person discount (being the only person now paying council tax) as they do not allow two discounts to run at once.
Does anybody understand this or have any advice?
Thank-you
HV x
PS have jsut this second received my bill back, and they have not ammended the charge!

My son lives in Central London in a flat with 5 others. He is the only non-student and pays the whole council tax minus the 25% single person discount. He comes under Westminster City Council and as they have the cheapest council tax he only pays £78.00 per month. I dont think the exemption starting from November is correct. It should start as soon as you start Uni! Also I think the two discounts running at once rule is wrong because actually one is an exemption asnd one is a discount! I should query this if you can.
My son was a bit upset about paying at first but he lives in a fabulous flat in Central London and his rent is £550. per month so even with the council tax it is not too bad. Also if students are exempt then that is it!
Hope this helps

pinkshoes

holly_vegas wrote: »

Hi all,
Sorry to jump on this thread but I am also in the same situation.
I am also a full time student from this September (ie now), have sent off my excemption certificate and received it back.
I only live with one other person also, who works and is not a student.
The council have told me that the exemption for council tax (as a student) only comes into effect from November (presumably I have to pay till then).
I was also told that the second person does not qualify for the single person discount (being the only person now paying council tax) as they do not allow two discounts to run at once.
Does anybody understand this or have any advice?
Thank-you
HV x
PS have jsut this second received my bill back, and they have not ammended the charge!

Phone the council tax department again and ask to speak to someone with some brain cells, as this is utter b*llocks! Your exemption is from the start of your academic year, and the 25% discount DOES apply. Refuse to pay until they sort this out!

A question for others: What happens if a student also has a part time job?! are they still exempt from CT?!

holly_vegas

Can I really refuse to pay?
I'm glad you agreed with me, I was beginning to wonder if it was just me thinking this was wrong! :beer: