Council Tax and Students

Students are not required to pay council tax. If you are living in halls of residence then you don’t need to worry about council tax at all, the college or university will sort that out.

However, if you are renting from a landlord then although you do not have to pay council tax as a student, you will have to prove to the council that you are a student otherwise you will be expected to pay, remember that it is the responsibility of the tenant to let the council know you are not liable to pay council tax, NOT the landlord.

The amount of council tax on a property differs with the value of the property and the area you live but as long as you’re a student it doesn’t really matter.

A property is only considered to be council tax free if all of its tenants are not liable to pay council tax, so in this example if you’re all students. If you have one non-student living in the house then they will have to pay council tax, although if it’s only one then there is a 25% discount. If you have more than one non-student then the house or flat will have to pay the full amount of council tax.

You will have to provide proof to you local council that your flat is full of students and does not have to pay tax. Your landlord should already have informed the council that you have moved in so it is likely that you will receive a council tax bill pretty soon after you move in.

All you should then have to do is ring the council and inform them that you’re all students and then send them proof. You can usually obtain a letter from your university or college stating that you attend; this letter will be required to have an official stamp on.