Council Tax and Students

We can charge less Council Tax if a property is occupied mostly or entirely by full time students. You are a full time student if you are:

• On a university or college course at a recognised educational establishment which lasts for at least one academic year, takes at least 24 weeks a year and involves at least 21 hours of study per week during term time
• Under 20 and studying for more than three months and at least 12 hours per week for any qualification up to A level, ONC or OND
• A student nurse on a university course.
• A foreign language assistant registered with the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges

Correspondence courses, evening courses or part-time classes do not count.

We can still give a reduction if there are people in the property who are the spouses or dependents of a student, if they are not British Citizens and are not allowed to claim benefit or do paid work in the UK.

If all or some of your household are students please complete the Student form. You will also need to let us see your student certificate, which is supplied by your university or college.

How much will the reduction be?

We look at how many adults (over the age of 18) live in the prooperty.

Then we take away the number of adults living there who are students or qualify to be disregarded under the categories listed here.

If there is one adult left, you will get a 25% discount.

If there are two or more adults left, you will not get a discount.

For example:

• Two parents who live with a full time student will not get a discount.
• One parent who lives with a full time student son or daughter will get a 25% discount.
• Four full time students living together on a joint tenancy agreement will be exempt from paying Council Tax.

If your bill shows that we have given you a discount, you must tell us about any changes in your circumstances that could affect your discount. You may have to pay a fine if you don’t do this.

Council Tax Reduction Form for Students
Contact Us

This document was last updated on 2008-09-25 15:24:03 published by the Revenues and Benefits team. Document Reference:LBE_111504