Council Tax: Do Students Pay When Renting & During Summer?

University life can be very expensive. Students need to make savings wherever they can.

Well, good news: If you’re in full-time education, then you probably don’t have to pay your council tax.

However! There are some situations where you might have to pay some council tax. But even then, it’s unlikely that you’ll have to pay the full amount.

Before we explore how council tax affects students, it’s worth taking a few moments to understand council tax a little better. This way, if you do have to pay anything, at least you’ll understand why.

What Is Council Tax?

Council tax funds all those essential things that keep towns and cities running, like schools, street cleaning, rubbish collections, and roadworks. Every household in the UK must pay council tax, and the amount each household pays depends on the value of the property.

And that’s the key thing to take away here: Council tax is charged per household, rather than per person.

So Do Students Have to Pay Council Tax?

Councils charge council tax per household, rather than per person. But they’ll still take your personal circumstances into consideration. And the good news is that full-time students are exempt from paying council tax. So if your student house is occupied exclusively by full-time students, then none of you will have to pay any council tax.

Do Students Have to Pay Council Tax in Summer?

The student council tax exemption counts as long as you’re in full-time education. This means that full-time students don’t have to pay any council tax when renting throughout the year, or even during the summer (apart from the summer at the end of your final year – where you’ll no longer be in full time education).

When Do Students Have To Pay Council Tax?

Things get complicated when you live in a shared house with either:

• Part-time students.
• Non-students.

Also, though full-time students generally don’t have to pay council tax during the summer, you will not be exempt from council tax for the summer months at the end of your final year. From the end date of your final term (and not your graduation day), you’ll no longer be in full-time education.

If you’re going into postgraduate education, you may still have to pay council tax during that period between when your undergraduate course ends and your postgraduate course begins.

Finally, bad news if you’re studying in Northern Ireland. Instead of council tax, Northern Ireland uses a system called domestic rates. And unfortunately, students are not exempt from paying domestic rates.

Living With Part-Time Students

Most councils consider you to be in full-time education if you’re doing at least 21 hours of studying each week. Any less than this and they may consider you to be in part-time education.

If you’re not in full-time education, then you may have to pay council tax.

Fortunately, it’s unlikely that you’ll have to pay the full amount. You could be eligible for a discount – especially if you’re the only part-time student in a household of full-time students.

Living With Non-Students

In a household containing both students and non-students, only those not in full-time education will have to pay the council tax on the property.

Sometimes, a single non-student can live with a group of students. In this situation, the sole non-student will be expected to pay the entire council tax bill. However, they would be able to apply for a single person discount of 25%.

But in a larger shared house containing multiple students and multiple non-students, this sort of situation can create tension. All of the students will be exempt, but all of the non-students will have to pay the whole council tax bill, most likely without a discount!

So it pays to be a bit picky about who you live with. If you’re planning on moving in with some friends, make sure that those who aren’t in full-time education understand what they’re getting into.

How To Apply For Council Tax Exemption

First, head to the government’s website to find out who your local council is, and how to contact them.

It may be possible to simply give your council a call to get your council tax exemption. Tell them your name, your student number, and anything else they ask for, and they might be able to sort out your exemption on the spot.

Some councils ask to see a “student certificate” before they exempt you from council tax. This is just proof that you’re in full-time education, and you should be able to get one from your university. Once you have your certificate, post it to the council to get your exemption.

If you receive a council tax bill in the post, you can apply for an exemption on the government’s website.

Making Every Penny Count At University

If you do have to pay council tax, you’ll have to ensure that your budget covers it.

Head here to read our full guide to setting a weekly budget as a student.

If you’re sharing your house with part-time students or non-students, then you might all decide that it’s fair to split the cost of council tax among the whole household. If so, read our guide to setting up bills in a student house to establish a system that works for everyone.

And speaking of bills, did you know that bills are inclusive when you rent one of our high quality student living spaces? We’re not just committed to bringing you the best rooms. We’re also committed to keeping thing as simple as possible. So let us help you find your ideal student property today.