Council Tax

[chin85]

I am currently in my first year of university, and considering moving out and renting a place. Would I have to pay council tax if I'm a student? If anyone has details on council tax e.g. what it is used for, how much it is and how the amount you pay is calculated, I would be most grateful.

[stevie21]

As long as you don't live with anyone who works you're exempt. It doesn't matter if you live on your own or with some other students, you don't need to pay any. (Though you do need to fill in forms and prove to the council that you're exempt).
If 99 students share a house with one non-student who is normally liable for council tax then the household (not just the non-student) will be liable for 75% of the normal bill.

Have a look for your local council's website to see what it costs for different bands of property. The better the area and the more expensive the house, the higher the band & cost of council tax.

[morg_monster]

You do not have to pay any council tax at all if you are a full time student.  In some places where lots of students live and there are whole houses full of students, they usually just take your word for it when you write it on the electoral roll form.  Otherwise, they may ask you to send in a letter from your uni saying you are a full time student, or some uni's give out a particular form.  At any rate, no you don't have to pay.  If you're in a house with non students, then they pay less in total.

[ann_h]

The above is right.

For general info (later on), Council tax pays towards all the council's expenditure - schools, roads, rubbish collection, street cleaning, and fire and police services. Oh, and cream cakes for the councillors!

An average house will be around 600-1000 a year depending where you live.

If  you are the only adult you are liable for 75% of this. 2 or more adults pay the full bill between them however many there are.

If you are on a very low wage or unemployed afterwards, you can apply for benefits against CTax but it's a major pain.

.

[banth]

As a full time student you will receive a "council tax exemption certificate". This exempts you from paying any council tax, regardless of who you live with. If you have not received one I suggest you get in touch with a student representative of the Uni, they will be able to help you.

[stevie21]

banth, I disagree.
The household will only become liable if there's a non-student there but once the household becomes liable, the council (in the words of a friend of mine who worked for them) don't care where the money comes from.  In their eyes, they just want the money from anyone at that address.

http://tinyurl.com/6tue4?
"Application for Council Tax Exemption where a property is completely occupied by full-time students."

 

"Application for Council Tax Discount where a property is partially occupied by a full-time student."

 

According to my "wonderful" council, it matters who you live with.

[cassimer]

Thought you might be interested that in the lovely university town of st andrews, we dont have to pay water rates either!