Council Tax & Housing Benefits
Council Tax
Under the current legislation, Halls of Residence and houses occupied only by students are "exempt dwellings" and are therefore NOT liable for Council Tax.
You should contact the Council Office when you move in to inform them of your student status. They will need to see written evidence of this – you can photocopy your University Registration slip and send them with a letter attached explaining your circumstances, and your names and address.
If there are students and non-students living in your property it is more complicated. If there is only one non-student living in the property then a 25% sole occupier discount is applicable. This is because the students are treated as invisible. A property with more than one non-student living in it will qualify for the full amount.
It is very important that if you are going to be living with one or more non-students that you decide who will be paying this bill. Students are treated as invisible when calculating the tax, but your housemates may find it unfair for you not to contribute.
It is worth remembering that non-students may be able to claim Council tax benefit if they are on a low income.
Housing Benefit
Housing and Council Tax Benefit are National Welfare Benefits, administered by Local Authorities. The purpose of housing benefit is to help people on low-income pay their rent. Council tax benefit is to help people on low-income pay their council tax benefit.
You are unable to claim any Housing Benefit (or most other benefits) on the grounds of being a student.
However, you may be entitled to Housing Benefits if you are one or more of the following:
- a lone parent
- a student couple with dependent children
- a student responsible for a child boarded with them
- a student who is older than 60
- a disabled student
- a student who is receiving a job seekers allowance
- a student who is under 19 in further education
nb. The partner of a student who is not a student themselves can still claim for the couple.
Contact revenues_benefits@bathnes.gov.uk or phone 01225 47 77 77 for more information.