AIBU to think uni students should pay council tax?

[alwaysreadthelabel]

I live in a uni town. We have massive areas that were non student resident housing areas but are now mainly student areas. I cannot get my head round why students don't pay council tax. They use all the same services as non student residents, admittedly not for the whole year but at least for 9 months. They use the roads, bins, libraries etc. .... why do they not have to pay council tax?

I know some will say they can't afford it but that could be said about any household bill. It really confuses me.

Choose to live in the community?!

I went to a city university with approx 20k students - where else do you think they’re going to live?

You don’t seem to understand - students are in education. They can barely afford to feed and house themselves. We need graduates, unless you’re happy removing your own appendix, or teeth, or homeschooling your kids without any other options, of course.

I’d be happy to pay more tax if it were actually used to improve services. I’d happily pay an additional ringfenced tax for the NHS. Still wouldn’t support charging people on the lowest incomes council tax though.

Because they study full time? That's like saying that 16 year olds should pay council tax because they exist.

The reason they don't is because they don't have the same amount of TIME as others to work. So someone on minimum wage can still work a 50 hour week and have enough money. Someone doing 20 hours of seminars/labs plus a shit tonne of hours writing essays and studying can't really go and earn enough to afford another fucking bill.

@RedPandaMama I also went to Lancaster!!

@MissConductUS that made me cackle 

And yes I think Landlords pay it instead don't they?

You are really mean op. God forgive your meanness as no one else will.👹

So if my children, who are now 2 at University are adult and pay council tax I do not have to fill in the forms that require me to support them .. Or actually support them.. Let alone their vastly inflated weekly rent .. For the 9 months they live at Uni.. Then come home where I need to pay full council tax as .. Because they come home I am not a single occupant...

I always thought landlords of student accommodation paid the council tax. But, it was 20 years since I went to uni so things have probably changed.

Oops that didn't make sense. If they pay council tax they get full grant and benefit as independent adults.

Council tax is a horrible disportionate tax. The way I look at it is why should the well off pay such a small proportion of their income? Why should the poorer pensioners pay? For people with a tiny amount of left-over pay council tax is a hefty bill - including students. But then it is capped unlike income tax.

I know the poor are more likely to use council services, but the shocking financial inequality that exists means that use and "payment" can never match up.

Unfortunately the Tories have cut so much money going to local councils I believe most of their income will come from council tax. It is typical austerity policy based on ideology. It turns groups of people against each other, encouraging resentment like the OP instead of solidarity and empathy. Divide and conquer. How the fuck else are they still in "power"?

They are low earners or unemployed ffs.

Actually thinking about it probably way cheaper for me.. And long term them.. For your couple of thousand max council tax per year those pesky learning people who will benefit your entire life and given the government's current funding arrangements I will benefit if they are not dependants... Go for it. ☺️☺️☺️

I agreed with the poll tax system, much fairer than council tax as it charged per adult not the household. The more people, the more use etc so it made far more sense.

I don't think students or children should pay the full rate but a reduced rate as they still create rubbish etc would be fair.

They are already ripped off by ridiculous rents for house shares in substandard accommodation .Perhaps the landlord should pay for it instead!

YABU, and YABVU for flouncing.

They are in education, all they have is loans and/or handouts from parents. They have to pay for enough already, they'll be paying council tax etc once they are working and that's quite enough for me.

We are a low income household, they still didn't get the full maintenance grant

Well you’re not that low on income then, OP. 🙄

YABVVU for asking a stupid question, saying you’ve been “abused” by people disagreeing with you and then flouncing off.

They use the roads
Do you mean students that drive? There’s a tax already for that OP.

What tax would that be?
VED is for emissions

Did I just see a flounce
Not seen a good flounce in ages

It must be great...all that extra £100 a month to spend on luxuries like food and text books.

In Houses of Multiple Occupation the landlord is liable for the council tax, not the tenants.

landlords.org.uk/news-campaigns/news/council-tax

What's set you off on this train of thought, OP? Are you feeling hard done by something?

YANBU, next they'll be breathing in the local communities oxygen rich air. The filthy bastards

If we charged students council tax in a round about way the taxpayer would still pay for it as governments would have to increase student loans to cover the council tax and the majority never get fully paid off... So the taxpayer would still subsidise it.

If it makes you feel better I'm a doing a post graduate course atm and we pay top band council tax.

Theoretically graduates should earn more, so end up paying more tax, and living in bigger houses so pay more council tax. So should all work out in the end.

@BlackPrism I'm glad! I thought I was just being politely ignored.

I cannot get my head round why students don't pay council tax.
And I can't get my head round that you think they should .
In the answer to your question I do think people should pay more but the higher earners ( probably You ) not students, pensioners or people on low incomes .
Ridiculous people that's post silly threads then get all huffy when no one agrees 🤦‍♀️

And how are they going to afford to pay £100+ a month out of their £8700 a year. They have no recourse to benefits.

We are a low income household, they still didn't get the full maintenance grant

If your child was eligible for a grant then they went some time ago.