Student Council Tax Advice

PedroEsko

My son has recently completed his degree course - his course finished on 14 June. He lived in a shared house with 3 other full time students. The tenancy agreement ran until 22 August.

One of the students was a foreign student and has now returned back to Spain, the other 2 students failed the year and have now got to repeat the final year. Subsequently, my son as the only UK based student who has completed his degree has received a bill for council tax - dating from 14 June. He is currently unemployed but searching for a job.

He returned home shortly after the 14 June - however the tenancy agreement ran until 22 August. Is it correct that my son is solely responsible for the Council tax for the period 14 June - 22 August (it does have a 25% discount as the other 2 UK based students are still full-time students). Any advice greatly received!

pinkshoes

PedroEsko said:

My son has recently completed his degree course - his course finished on 14 June. He lived in a shared house with 3 other full time students. The tenancy agreement ran until 22 August.

One of the students was a foreign student and has now returned back to Spain, the other 2 students failed the year and have now got to repeat the final year. Subsequently, my son as the only UK based student who has completed his degree has received a bill for council tax - dating from 14 June. He is currently unemployed but searching for a job.

He returned home shortly after the 14 June - however the tenancy agreement ran until 22 August. Is it correct that my son is solely responsible for the Council tax for the period 14 June - 22 August (it does have a 25% discount as the other 2 UK based students are still full-time students). Any advice greatly received!

What sort of house is it? Did they rent the house as one house then split the rent/bills, or is it an HMO where they pay a LL an amount for their room which includes bills?

In an HMO the LL pays the council tax. As the four were unrelated, then I think this was an HMO?

This should help:
https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/debt/council_tax/student_accommodation

and:

https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/debt_advice/resources_for_debt_advisers/council_tax_liability_for_houses_in_multiple_occupation_hmos

silvercar

If they are on a joint tenancy then he may be liable for the whole council tax, less a 25% discount for being the only person liable.

If it’s an HMO with individual contracts, then the landlord should be paying all bills, including council tax. Though there may be a clause in the contract about non students having to reimburse the landlord if they are not CT exempt.

If he isn’t working and his little savings he may be able to apply for council tax benefit.

If he returned home he is in the same situation as the Spanish student, so should both be liable or none. Though chasing someone overseas is hard, and in any case they would both be jointly liable for the full amount.

If he has surrendered the tenancy then he can show proof the tenancy has ended and won’t be liable, if the tenancy still runs but he has moved out, it’s a bit of a grey area and may depend how tenacious the council want to be.