STUDENT DAUGHTER AND COUNCIL TAX

[Faith8]

Hi everyone, I wasn't sure where to post this - hope this is correct. My 21 year old daughter is at Uni and has an exemption certificate for Council Tax until 2007. However, she has rented a flat for the summer and has been told that she has to pay Council Tax. Surely, if she is exempt from this payment at Uni, then she is exempt anywhere as her circumstances are the same. Any thoughts greatly appreciated. Thanks.

It was a few years ago when I was at Uni, but I had to apply to the Uni for an exemption certificate. Not sure about summer holidays though because technically you aren't a student. You can't claim dole, but until you register again for the next year you aren't registered at the uni. Contact your local council to clarify.

I presume your daughter is is a full time undergraduate student and therefore only exempt from council tax during term time - uni should be able to supply documentation showing term dates for academic year. Slightly different if she is a post grad student - taught post grad students (courses such as MSc, PG Diploma) are exempt as per undergraduates. However research postgraduates (PhD etc)are exempt throughout the supervised part of there studies but not for the writing up phase, presuming they are studying full time.
The term time thing applies cos technically students can work full time throughout the holiday periods, if she is on a uni related unpaid placement she can appeal.
THe other catch is the property is only exempt from council tax if solely occupied by students, if a mixed household proof of student status required to ensure discounts are given and the working members of the household don't get landed with the full bill.

Thanks west3 - she is a full time undergraduate - final yaer starts October. Thanks for your help.

My daughter is going to share a house with 4 friends in September. The house is a private one but the owner has regisrered it as student housing so she will be exempt frpm council tax.
Is the house she has rented regisrered as studnt housing if not she will have to pat council tax.

it's nothing to do with how the house is registered, but who lives in it. I lived in a student house with 4 students and one worker so we had to pay the thing.

anyway faith - as far as I know the exeption cert should cover her for the whole year because the summer hols are supposed to be for reading/research. at least, that's how it used to be 10 years ago. maybe they've changed it.

(ouch was it really 10 years ago I was at university??)

Thanks everyone.

When I was a student(2000-2004) I never had to pay council tax even though I worked in the hols and rented my own place. The exemption is for a whole year as far as I know.

I have to pay for the summer as I am not a student between June and October, apparently. Really hit us that did. maybe if I was working but I am not, unless you count 3 kids...

All my documentation from the college I had to show the council gave a term end date, so I think they really do stop it now. Sigh. Reduced grant, extra council tax = broke. So broke you would not believe it (DH had to claim back excess on BT payments to buy food, DS3's birthday money from rellies paying work petrol next week - although he will be refunded, stuff on ebay to pay then until after pay day (15th) (we were hirt by car disaster (key broke in lock), tax and a few other things all last week)

It's different rules if you live with someone who works, I think you still have to pay all or most of it. Also different for FE rather than HE. Student union would probably be the best place to go for advice.

I do live with a working DH- we get a reduction of about 30% 'second adult discount'