Graduating student and confusion over council tax bill

MILLIEMOGS

Had the same problem when I was a student a few years ago, a quick phone call to the council solved the problem straight away, new bill received less than a week later. Was not asked to provide any physical evidence, just a couple of quick question, job done. Sounds like someone has simply provided the wrong details to the council or the council have misunderstood. Also happened when I called my council to let them know my father had died and to give them mums details. For some reason they issued a bill in my name (even though I never even gave them my name), again a quick call, job done. Correct bill issued within the week.

CIS

Spendless said:

That's what I thought, thank you but the person telling me otherwise works for the council and checked it with their council tax dept (diff area to where DS studies). A quick google tells me that councils do tell students incorrectly about council tax.

After too many years in council tax I'd probably get banned if I offered my honest opinion on them.

Spendless

Update -
 DS and Housemate 2 have provided evidence of their student status and have received a message saying it will take 4 weeks to respond and not to call within that time.


Housemate 1 hasn't applied for CT benefit but has been doing some work and is hoping to be paid by Friday.

The 1st instalment of this bill is due on 1st June. I believe the letter said something like if the monthly amount isn't paid, then it will need paying in one go. 

Will this month need paying (by housemate 1) , even though they are sorting out DS and Housemate 2's exemption from the bill.

I'm just concerned not doing so will result in having to find a larger chunk of money to pay the bill at once. I know it's not my DSs bill but they all tend to ask me/DH for advice and I'd rather not tell them wrong.  

poppy12345

The 1st installment needs to be paid as normal.

Spendless

From this very site. This says that DS despite his student status is liable  If this is correct, then we are probably going to have to step in, something I was reluctant to do. Too late now for DD who is house sharing in September but I would say for future reference don't house share with someone in a graduating year if you are in a lower year.     https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/council-tax-bands-change/?utm_content=1622031676&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR1dgAa2oFnzFVAUa6k6IiPHNpNbkplz9HXhVExYU4fj6vspjHcHjMY-sJA#discounts          

Students are disregarded for council tax purposes – up to 100% discount

Who can claim? If a household has only full-time students (including one student alone) then there is no council tax to pay. Even if there are eight of you as students, you are disregarded for council tax purposes.

To count as a full-time student, your course must last at least a year and involve at least 21 study hours a week.

How big is the discount? A household with only full-time students, or students living only with under-18s, or someone with an SMI, does not pay council tax as all occupants are disregarded.

If full-time students are living with one non-student adult (who doesn't qualify for any other discounts), then the household will get a 25% single person reduction. Yet it is worth noting the whole household is legally liable for the bill, not just the non-student. If there are two or more non-student adults, then the full council tax is due (and again, all are legally responsible).                       

Is it fair for the non-student to pay the entire 75% due, or should the student contribute?

From the student's perspective, they wouldn't pay anything if their housemate was also a student. From the non-student's perspective, they'd only pay 50% of the bill if their housemate was also a non-student.

Therefore my suggestion is to split the 25% difference between the two, so the non-student pays 62.5% and the student 12.5%.            

CIS

Spendless said:

If full-time students are living with one non-student adult (who doesn't qualify for any other discounts), then the household will get a 25% single person reduction. Yet it is worth noting the whole household is legally liable for the bill, not just the non-student. If there are two or more non-student adults, then the full council tax is due (and again, all are legally responsible).                       

That is an unfortunate error in the site.

s6(3) LGFA 1992 sorted that issued from 01 April 2013 in respect of students & non-students being jointly liable - except in the rare prescribed cases under s8 or where the student has the higher legal interest.

Spendless

CIS said:

Spendless said:

If full-time students are living with one non-student adult (who doesn't qualify for any other discounts), then the household will get a 25% single person reduction. Yet it is worth noting the whole household is legally liable for the bill, not just the non-student. If there are two or more non-student adults, then the full council tax is due (and again, all are legally responsible).                       

That is an unfortunate error in the site.

s6(3) LGFA 1992 sorted that issued from 01 April 2013 in respect of students & non-students being jointly liable - except in the rare prescribed cases under s8 or where the student has the higher legal interest.

Thank you. I did wonder, but that is the same advice my local council gave my friend when she enquired for me. (a few posts back)   I know Martin Lewis sold this site some years ago but the editorial  content should have remained accurate

CIS

Spendless said:

CIS said:

Spendless said:

If full-time students are living with one non-student adult (who doesn't qualify for any other discounts), then the household will get a 25% single person reduction. Yet it is worth noting the whole household is legally liable for the bill, not just the non-student. If there are two or more non-student adults, then the full council tax is due (and again, all are legally responsible).                       

That is an unfortunate error in the site.

s6(3) LGFA 1992 sorted that issued from 01 April 2013 in respect of students & non-students being jointly liable - except in the rare prescribed cases under s8 or where the student has the higher legal interest.

Thank you. I did wonder, but that is the same advice my local council gave my friend when she enquired for me. (a few posts back)   I know Martin Lewis sold this site some years ago but the editorial  content should have remained accurate

If the council have advised that a non-student and a student are jointly liable then they need to look again at what their staff are saying as it's wrong (with the exception of a few off cases which do not appear to apply here). Unfortunately it is an all too common occurrence that I've seen many times.

Which council is it ?

Spendless

CIS said:

Spendless said:

CIS said:

Spendless said:

If full-time students are living with one non-student adult (who doesn't qualify for any other discounts), then the household will get a 25% single person reduction. Yet it is worth noting the whole household is legally liable for the bill, not just the non-student. If there are two or more non-student adults, then the full council tax is due (and again, all are legally responsible).                       

That is an unfortunate error in the site.

s6(3) LGFA 1992 sorted that issued from 01 April 2013 in respect of students & non-students being jointly liable - except in the rare prescribed cases under s8 or where the student has the higher legal interest.

Thank you. I did wonder, but that is the same advice my local council gave my friend when she enquired for me. (a few posts back)   I know Martin Lewis sold this site some years ago but the editorial  content should have remained accurate

If the council have advised that a non-student and a student are jointly liable then they need to look again at what their staff are saying as it's wrong (with the exception of a few off cases which do not appear to apply here). Unfortunately it is an all too common occurrence that I've seen many times.

Which council is it ?

CIS said:

Spendless said:

CIS said:

Spendless said:

If full-time students are living with one non-student adult (who doesn't qualify for any other discounts), then the household will get a 25% single person reduction. Yet it is worth noting the whole household is legally liable for the bill, not just the non-student. If there are two or more non-student adults, then the full council tax is due (and again, all are legally responsible).                       

That is an unfortunate error in the site.

s6(3) LGFA 1992 sorted that issued from 01 April 2013 in respect of students & non-students being jointly liable - except in the rare prescribed cases under s8 or where the student has the higher legal interest.

Thank you. I did wonder, but that is the same advice my local council gave my friend when she enquired for me. (a few posts back)   I know Martin Lewis sold this site some years ago but the editorial  content should have remained accurate

If the council have advised that a non-student and a student are jointly liable then they need to look again at what their staff are saying as it's wrong (with the exception of a few off cases which do not appear to apply here). Unfortunately it is an all too common occurrence that I've seen many times.

Which council is it ?

My friend works for my town council (not in the council tax department) and she asked the question for me based on DS's scenario. Son studies 100 miles away, so a different council altogether. When I saw the same info given on this site as my town council had passed on to my friend for me, I wondered what the correct situation was.
 

CIS

How it should work is that (by way of example);

A, B and C are joint tenants. B and C are students.

a) Determine all joint tenants  - A, B and C

b) Apply s6(2) LGFA 1992 to determine liability - all are joint tenants so A,B and C are initially jointly liable.

c) Apply s6(3) LGFA 1992 in respect of students - remove all full time students from joint liability (B and C). This leaves just A

d) Make A liable and apply any discounts