Council tax - can I dispute this?

Charlie24

I am currently an undergraduate student at university, and live with my partner who is also a student at the same uni. We are the only occupants in our flat and have both been exempt from paying council tax so far. Yesterday we got a bill in the post charging us for council tax from 11th May 2017 until 31st March 2018. However, we are both still matriculated students, according to our council tax exemption certificates - my term end date is 2nd June, and my partner's is 26th May.

Do we have a case to argue here against the council for charging us whilst still matriculated students? I would have thought the earliest we could be liable for council tax would be 27th May i.e. the next day after one person in the household stops being a student.

Any thoughts/comments? Thanks.

agrinnall

You need to ask the council why they have chosen to start charging you from 11th May. My initial thought would be to agree with you that there should be no charge until the 27th (or possibly the 26th), and that you'd then have a week where your partner could claim single person discount before you both become liable for payment.

Charlie24

Thanks. That's a good point about the single person discount too. I will ask them next week as it will make a significant difference to the amount we pay overall.

agrinnall

Charlie24 wrote: »

Thanks. That's a good point about the single person discount too. I will ask them next week as it will make a significant difference to the amount we pay overall.

While it's better for you to have the money than the council it's not going to make a huge difference overall, you'll be paying for 10 of 12 months so a couple of weeks 100% discount and 1 week 25% discount be will around 5% over the whole period.