Students Council Tax Liability

swanny65

Hi

Our son is a university student. He should have completed his degree in June this year and graduated in Sept.However when he was home with us at Easter this year he broke his arm and had to suspend his studies.

At the end of August 2025 he returned to live with two friends, who each have failed one year, so all three will graduate in 2026. While at university and when at home our son has a part time job with a supermaket chain, 4 hrs a week at university and approx 30 hrs a week at home, although he signed off as unfit for work from April to July this year due to his injury.

He has been asked by the letting agent to provide a letter from his university confirming he is a student. I have read this post https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6626324/student-council-tax-advice?utm_source=community-search&utm_medium=organic-search&utm_term=student+council and am concerned he may be liable for Council Tax.

When he broke his arm the university suspended his examinations and disitation and said he could resume his studies in Easter 2026. He will return in Feb/Mar 2026 so he can get up to speed rather than go cold into his examinations.

He has not applied for a student loan. After not being re-employed by the supermarket at university this August, two weeks ago he was given a new role and a 22.5hrs a week contract. He wanted to increase his hours to be able to pay his rent and buy food.

Finally, he has about £13K in an ISA (previously a Child Trust Fund that we paid into for him).

Having read the above he and we are concerned he may be liable for all Council Tax on the property. The tenancy states - If a tenant ceases to become a student for council tax purposes i.e. 20 hours study per week they shall no longer be exempt from council tax and shall be liable for any council tax due. It is the tenants responsibility to provide proof of student status i.e. enrolment number, college dates etc.   

He has not been contacted about Council Tax for his previous address from Easter 25 when he suspended his studies. However he left the address and was living with us as he was attending our local hospital.

Could someone clarify the liability for Council Tax in these circs. If the university will give him a letter confirming he is now a student from Sept 22 to June 26, with a reason why the course has been extended, will that surfice.

Should he be looking to claim Council Tax Benefit on the basis of his low income, noting he does have an ISA.

Many thanks.

beckstar1975

If he's currently on an interruption of studies the University won't be able to confirm that he's a current full time student and thus eligible for the council tax exemption. In theory he won't have been since Easter, but if he left the property at that point it's moot. So he will likely be liable for the council tax until he resumes his studies next year, if the other housemates are both full time students he should get the single person discount.

Afraid I can't help re any support to pay this.

saajan_12

swanny65 said:

He has not been contacted about Council Tax for his previous address from Easter 25 when he suspended his studies. However he left the address and was living with us as he was attending our local hospital.

Could someone clarify the liability for Council Tax in these circs. If the university will give him a letter confirming he is now a student from Sept 22 to June 26, with a reason why the course has been extended, will that surfice.

Should he be looking to claim Council Tax Benefit on the basis of his low income, noting he does have an ISA.

Many thanks.

Council tax is on a per property basis - if the property has non students living there, then its liable for council tax. So between Easter - Summer 2025, arguably if he was not living at the property, then he wasn't liable for council tax, and the actual residents were all students. 

However once he moved into the share house, it sounds like he's not a student. The tenancy agreement and student loan are irrelevant. Also no one will contact you, its up to the resident to inform the council. They may belatedly get information from universtities and question any exemption claims, but initially the onus is on the individual so saying you weren't contacted won't help.

So depends on what the university class him as, but it sounds to me like he doesn't fit the 20 hours / week definition of student. 

Also 

swanny65

Thanks very much 

Blancmang25

swanny65 said:

Hi

Our son is a university student. He should have completed his degree in June this year and graduated in Sept.However when he was home with us at Easter this year he broke his arm and had to suspend his studies.

At the end of August 2025 he returned to live with two friends, who each have failed one year, so all three will graduate in 2026. While at university and when at home our son has a part time job with a supermaket chain, 4 hrs a week at university and approx 30 hrs a week at home, although he signed off as unfit for work from April to July this year due to his injury.

He has been asked by the letting agent to provide a letter from his university confirming he is a student. I have read this post https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6626324/student-council-tax-advice?utm_source=community-search&utm_medium=organic-search&utm_term=student+council and am concerned he may be liable for Council Tax.

When he broke his arm the university suspended his examinations and disitation and said he could resume his studies in Easter 2026. He will return in Feb/Mar 2026 so he can get up to speed rather than go cold into his examinations.

He has not applied for a student loan. After not being re-employed by the supermarket at university this August, two weeks ago he was given a new role and a 22.5hrs a week contract. He wanted to increase his hours to be able to pay his rent and buy food.

Finally, he has about £13K in an ISA (previously a Child Trust Fund that we paid into for him).

Having read the above he and we are concerned he may be liable for all Council Tax on the property. The tenancy states - If a tenant ceases to become a student for council tax purposes i.e. 20 hours study per week they shall no longer be exempt from council tax and shall be liable for any council tax due. It is the tenants responsibility to provide proof of student status i.e. enrolment number, college dates etc.   

He has not been contacted about Council Tax for his previous address from Easter 25 when he suspended his studies. However he left the address and was living with us as he was attending our local hospital.

Could someone clarify the liability for Council Tax in these circs. If the university will give him a letter confirming he is now a student from Sept 22 to June 26, with a reason why the course has been extended, will that surfice.

Should he be looking to claim Council Tax Benefit on the basis of his low income, noting he does have an ISA.

Many thanks.

He ceased being a student at Easter when he broke his arm and suspended his studies.
He will become a student again, when he commences his studies in Easter 2026.
This is probably when the University will give him a certificate for council tax purposes.

With regards to Council Tax Reduction, each local authority has their own scheme, so have a look on your Council's website regarding this.

As for the council tax liability, this depends on the tenancy agreement that was in/is place or if it was a hmo.

Iam going to presume they were all jointly liable on the tenancy agreement in Easter and were all students. Your son becomes liable for Council Tax from Easter and if all others were students, he will be able to have a 25% discount( Single Person Discount basically he is the only person in the property, as the others are exempt due to their student status).

I would also advise him to contact the council and let them know he has left the property and confirm he was no longer a student. If they are unaware and there has been other changes in the household, they will chase him for any outstanding council tax.

Below is a link to a guide regarding students and council tax:

https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/debt/council_tax/student_accommodation#student-liability-for-the-council-tax-bill