Student Council Tax charge at end of degree!

TINKERBELL · 18 March 2017 at 11:27PM

Hi can anyone advise on the following please? My son shared a house with 4 other students. They graduated last July (2016) and have just received a council tax bill this month! Covering the period from the end of the University summer term, 11th June 2016, up to the end of their rental house tenancy, which was the 24th July 2016 (well actually the council tax bill states 4th August 2016, after the rental period was up anyway!?). They didn't graduate until 14th July 2016. They were all students, hence unemployed, and they didn't live in the property after they graduated. Are the council correct in charging them?

A double whammy; being charged rent for 12 months when they didn't need it and now to be charged council tax!

Dobbibill · 19 March 2017 at 7:16AM

Check out the local council website - there are normally specific rules for HMO properties.

TINKERBELL · 20 March 2017 at 12:18PM

Thank you for your reply. I checked the website and couldn't find anything relevant to their position. I will enquire from the University accommodation department.

Any other students experience this?

CIS · 20 March 2017 at 2:09PM

Did they have a joint tenancy or did they just each rent rooms ?

They each cease being a student as soon as they stop meeting the criteria to be regarded as a student for council tax purposes - at that point the exemption ceases and they will be liable for any council tax charge which is due. This date can be before the university formally award the degree, depending on the circumstances.

The only way to clarify the dates used is to ask the council why they've used those particular dates and then work from there.

Craig

ceb1995 · 20 March 2017 at 2:13PM

It's possible they went of the last attended date not graduation date, when my partner and I left university we finished in may so were considered liable from then not our graduation dates.

FabFifty · 20 March 2017 at 4:26PM

No longer a student after the last official date of your university course - not from graduation date which may be a few weeks later.

inkie · 17 April 2017 at 5:13PM

The uni give an exemption certificate and the date it ceases will vary from uni to uni

Mariaraver92 · 23 May 2017 at 7:54AM

Hi there Hate to be the bearer of bad news but I am afraid your son will have to pay. This happened to me last year, my degree ended in June 2016 yet I didn't find work until August 2016. I disputed it but I still had to pay. Sorry