Council tax discount

OMFC1929

Would be most grateful if someone could assist me with this. . I have a son who is away at University and a daughter who is studying from home..My daughter is taking a full time course in Chinese Medicine at a practitioners who are registered with the acupuncture SOCIETY.  However my council,  Hounslow,  will not accept her course as it is not in their listings.  She is not claiming any government funding/ benefits and I feel I am justified for the 25%( sole occupancy)discount.  I have given them all the information that I have, but it has been rejected.  Thank you in advance. 

lincroft1710

As she appears not to be studying with a recognised college or university, this is probably why the council are claiming the discount does not apply

Jonsunrise

Same council, but a few more years down the line. Our daughter lived in our one bedroom flat as a student and has just moved out. As a single occupant she received a 25% discount on the council tax. The sale of the flat fell through. Whilst trying to arrange another sale, with the property empty, I am being charged 100% council tax. (ie no services being used and we have the privilege of paying more for them. Totally illogical.) I am wondering what would happen if I registered the property as my home eg changed my driving licence, would the council then have to give me a 25% discount? 

lincroft1710

Jonsunrise said:

Same council, but a few more years down the line. Our daughter lived in our one bedroom flat as a student and has just moved out. As a single occupant she received a 25% discount on the council tax. The sale of the flat fell through. Whilst trying to arrange another sale, with the property empty, I am being charged 100% council tax. (ie no services being used and we have the privilege of paying more for them. Totally illogical.) I am wondering what would happen if I registered the property as my home eg changed my driving licence, would the council then have to give me a 25% discount? 

CT is not a payment for services. Councils can give short term discounts for empty property, but many choose not to. The idea is to incentivise property owners not to keep their properties empty

If you registered the property as your home and changed your driving licence, but didn't live there, you'd be committing CT fraud, plus be guilty of having a false address on your driving licence.

fatbelly

OMFC1929 said:

Would be most grateful if someone could assist me with this. . I have a son who is away at University and a daughter who is studying from home..My daughter is taking a full time course in Chinese Medicine at a practitioners who are registered with the acupuncture SOCIETY.  However my council,  Hounslow,  will not accept her course as it is not in their listings.  She is not claiming any government funding/ benefits and I feel I am justified for the 25%( sole occupancy)discount.  I have given them all the information that I have, but it has been rejected.  Thank you in advance. 

Is she under or over 20?

The definition of a student is someone who studies for more than 21 hours per week.

You may need to take this to the Valuation Tribunal

https://www.valuationtribunal.gov.uk/

see flowchart

https://www.valuationtribunal.gov.uk/council-tax/council-tax-liability-2/

CIS

The normal student rules still apply under 20, you just have the benefit of the alternative rules which also apply to under 20s. Being too lazy to open my legislation folder, here's a summary I nicked re students under 20.

A person between 18 and 20 years old studying for more than three months and at least 12 hours per week for any qualification up to an A Level, ONC or OND standard. Correspondence courses, or courses taken in connection with a job, such as day release, are not included. If the student is under 20 and leaves school after 30 April, then the discount can continue until November.

My daughter is taking a full time course in Chinese Medicine at a practitioners who are registered with the acupuncture SOCIETY.  However my council,  Hounslow,  will not accept her course as it is not in their listings. 

What grounds exactly did they reject it on? It is important.

OMFC1929

Thanks very much for your responses. Hounslow have rejected on the grounds that my daughter is not studying a course of which they have approved. She is 19. . I will take the advice of appealing to the correct governing body..Thank you again

CIS

OMFC1929 said:

Thanks very much for your responses. Hounslow have rejected on the grounds that my daughter is not studying a course of which they have approved. She is 19. . I will take the advice of appealing to the correct governing body..Thank you again

An appeal has to be done in the correct manner as per the relevant legislation or it will be rejected (I work specifically in dealing with council tax disputes and appeals, and even I've had cases rejected initially because the tribunal picked up bits with the council's side).