Council Tax Certificates

The Council Tax combines a tax on property with a personal element depending on the status of the occupants of the property. Full-time students may be exempt from Council Tax.

If you live in Halls of Residence...
You don't have to pay Council Tax.

If you live on your own or everyone in your home is a student and you live in owner occupied or rented...
You may not have to pay Council Tax. But you'll need to claim this exemption.

If you live in the same home as your landlord...
You aren't responsible for paying the Council Tax. Your landlord may be able to claim a discount from the bill.

If you share parts of your home (such as a bathroom or kitchen) with other households but you pay your rent separately to the landlord...
Again, you aren't responsible for paying the Council Tax. The owner of the property is. Examples of this would be groups of bedsits or nurses homes.

If you own or rent the whole of your home, but some of the people in your household aren't students...
You'll usually be responsible for paying the Council Tax along with any joint owners or joint tenants living with you. But you may be able to claim a discount. If, however, you share a property jointly with nonstudents (which you do not own or are not the main tenant of) or share a tenancy with your partner who is not a student, then you may NOT have to pay Council Tax. Section 74 Local Government Act 2003 may apply to you in these circumstances.

You may also be able to claim a Council Tax Rebate if...

• You study part-time, or
• You are a single parent, or you or your partner are disabled or aged 60 or over, or
• Your partner is not a student (s/he needs to make a claim)

If someone in your household is on a low income...
You may be able to claim a Council Tax Rebate based on their income, even if you study full-time.