COUNCIL TAX FOR A RENTED ROOM IN AN HMO (House in Multiple Occupation)

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My daughter rents a room with en suite in shared accommodation. There are 4 other tenants. She shares the living room, kitchen and main bathroom with the other tenants. Each tenant has their own tenancy agreement. The house has an HMO licence. She has recently received a council tax bill addressed to her room stating that she owes council tax of £1,200 as her room has been assessed as Band A as it is classed as a self-contained property. Is this correct? How can it be classed as self-contained if she shares all the other rooms except her bedroom? Also, if she does have to pay this council tax, will she be entitled to single person discount? Thank you in advance.
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https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understand-how-council-tax-bands-are-assessed
To be assessed as self contained, doesn't the dwelling need to have some provision for food preparation as well, such as a kichenette (sink, microwave etc)?
CT hierarchy of liability overrides any tenancy agreement terms and conditions.
"Separately let rooms in an HMO may have been structurally and/or physically adapted, for example, so that they have their own kitchenette or separate shower/bath and WC. They will be given their own band even though may share some facilities. In making a decision, the VOA will look at all the facts, including whether the property has been structurally altered".
So it seems that your daughter is liable for CT but would also be eligible for the single person's discount. However, if she isn't happy with the council's decision, she can always ask them to investigate and/or advise. The VOA should actually visit the property to ascertain the correct CT bandings.
As we know from posts on this very site, councils do not always get things right when it comes to council tax bandings and/or charges.
I'd definitely query this with the council. It can't hurt and could even help. If the money is due then the council will also be able to help with some payment arrangements - after the single person's discount has been deducted.
If the LL let it as a room in an HMO then the rent must have included an allowance for CT, and the tenant is entitled to request a reduction in rent if this is no longer the case.
She should contact the council to obtain the SPD and it will be obvious from the bill if the council are using the correct start date for her and charging the (pre SPD) amount. Clearly if the council are using a date prior to either your daughter's actual occupation or tenancy commencement (whichever is the earlier) then she should tell them.
She needs to speak to the LL to establish what his understanding of the position is, as he must have been paying the CT up to 1/22.
Perhaps there was a refurb and the en-suites were added sometime before that date?