Renting in shared accommodation

slenderkitten

I live in a two bedroom flat in Scotland, environmental health are not going to class it at hmo. I work and a newish tenant is a student will I be paying for half council tax and they pay other half only or do I pay full rate, my bedroom door has no lock the other one does have a lock.

Can anyone advise on this?

pmlindyloo

According to this link:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/housing/council-tax/council-tax-s/

The other tenant is disregarded for council tax as they are a student. So therefore you would be the liable person. You should be entitled to the 25% single person's discount.

slenderkitten

So I would have to pay more can I do anything about it?

marliepanda

Do anything about it?

Your liable for the council tax, not the student. You could agree privately to split the cost but if I were the student I wouldn't be agreeing...

You could apply for council tax reduction as a benefit if you are on a low income. Other than that the standard 25% discount would apply.

theartfullodger

As there are two people living there I can't see on what basis there should be the single-person's 25% discount. (Or can someone point to legislation/rules saying it still applies, please?)

Yes, I know the student doesn;t pay.

sammyjammy

The student is disregarded for council tax purposes hence the OP is treated as the single adult in the house and entitled to the 25% discount.

https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/who-has-to-pay

IAmWales

slenderkitten wrote: »

So I would have to pay more can I do anything about it?

Become a student?

Dorian1958

Tbh, I don't understand this set up, if it's not an HMO, do you have a SAT in place? If so, what does it say about liability for council tax and utilities? Is the landlord registered, a legal requirement in Scotland?

slenderkitten

Landlord is registered what is SAT? Its just two rooms I'm a flat I've heard that only a flat where all students are living there don't pay it I would be the only one working l. What about if the student work part time or if they have a student loan.

iammumtoone

Something doesn't seem right

Not the students fault but this seems very unfair on the OP.

Two working people would split the council tax equally.

The OP is penalised as the second person is not eligible for council tax, they didn't chose to live with a student the LL arranged this.

gycraig_2

If you got a quote for a monthly cost which included council tax gas water etc I'd stick to paying the landlord what you paid for.

If you both pay half rent then split bills I'm afraid I wouldn't be paying council tax I wasn't liable for