Student Council Tax Exemption.

iklepig

Hello,

I am a little confused around student council tax exemption - could someone enlighten me please? 

It’s summer 2025. Student 1 has just finished Y2 and is continuing into Y3/final year for academic year 2025-26 as a full-time student (& they receive PIP). Student 2 has just finished Y3/final year, in process of graduating and has guaranteed place to continue studying full-time at uni for a MSc for academic year 2025-26. They receive PIP.

For the 2025-26 academic year, these 2 full-time university students (not in a relationship) decide to share a flat together and sign a 1 year joint tenancy agreement running 1st July 2025- 1st July 2026.

The students have received a council tax bill charging them the full amount from 1st July until mid-September when the new academic year starts. Then a student reduction kicks in from mid-September.  Is that right?

To my mind they are both continuing students so I don’t see how they are charged council tax for the summer. Also in previous summers, neither were charged council tax during the summer in their previous student-only houses/flats when they shared with other groups of students so I can’t see why they were charged this summer. Is it a mistake because they moved to a new flat-share? 

It’s seems to me that a move to this flat has triggered a summer of council tax which doesn’t seem right when they’re both clearly continuing students. 

Can anyone explain to me if this is right please?

Spoonie_Turtle

How long was student 2 still enrolled on the course from which they are graduating?  I don't know if full council tax is correct, but it would seem to me if student 2's course finished in July and they didn't start their post-grad course until mid-Sept, they would not be a student for council tax purposes for that period of time between courses.

beckstar1975

From a uni pov we can only issue a council tax exemption if the student has not yet reached the end date of their program and they have not been withdrawn/suspended or on a current interruption of studies. So student 1 would be OK if they were in 'good-standing' (or had arrangements to resit in attendance) but student 2 has completed their studies and not yet enrolled on their next so are not eligible. And, as I understand student 1 would be exempted but student 2 would be expected to pay the rest (I think it might be a 25% discount but don't quote me on that) for living with a full time exempted student.

best thing is for student 2 to check with their uni but I really, really wouldn't expect them to backdate the exemption to the date prior to the program start date.

Blancmang25

iklepig said:

Hello,

I am a little confused around student council tax exemption - could someone enlighten me please? 

It’s summer 2025. Student 1 has just finished Y2 and is continuing into Y3/final year for academic year 2025-26 as a full-time student (& they receive PIP). Student 2 has just finished Y3/final year, in process of graduating and has guaranteed place to continue studying full-time at uni for a MSc for academic year 2025-26. They receive PIP.

For the 2025-26 academic year, these 2 full-time university students (not in a relationship) decide to share a flat together and sign a 1 year joint tenancy agreement running 1st July 2025- 1st July 2026.

The students have received a council tax bill charging them the full amount from 1st July until mid-September when the new academic year starts. Then a student reduction kicks in from mid-September.  Is that right?

To my mind they are both continuing students so I don’t see how they are charged council tax for the summer. Also in previous summers, neither were charged council tax during the summer in their previous student-only houses/flats when they shared with other groups of students so I can’t see why they were charged this summer. Is it a mistake because they moved to a new flat-share? 

It’s seems to me that a move to this flat has triggered a summer of council tax which doesn’t seem right when they’re both clearly continuing students. 

Can anyone explain to me if this is right please?

First of all PIP is irrelevant for council tax purposes.

Student 1 from what I am reading is on a 3 year course, so should be exempt from council tax as a student.( unless there are other mitigating factors the council may have taken into account). You may have to provide the council tax certificate from the Uni again to confirm for the new address.

Student 2 is not exempt until they commrnce their new course, as they ceased being a student from the date the last course ended. You will need to provide a new council tax certificate from the university confirming the details of the new course.

For the period 01.07.25 to when student 2 commences new course they will be entitled to 25% discount, as only one adult in the property(student 1 is exempt)