Maintenance Loan

[Olympicfan]

DC wants to study in London and live at home. However, it will be an hour's commute each way. A relative has offered DC a room in their house (they live closer to the station and only a 45 minute commute). If they live at relative's house during term time (weekdays) and lived at home at weekends and in the holidays, would they be classed as 'Studying in London and living at home' or 'Studying in London and not living at home'?

From my town to the closest of DS’s university choices is 38 miles. I hadn’t even contemplated him commuting! I’d be very surprised if he’d get checked out but he’d be living in halls not with a relative.

Student finance don't have a scooby where you live. If you're not with your parents then you are living away from home, apply for the most maintenance they can get as working alongside uni can really affect your grades.

Also consider adding your DC to the electoral role as a second address with your relatives, they then qualify for 20% less council tax and you can prove that they're not living with you. Are the relatives charging rent? If not consider having a saving pot they pay into every week in place of rent, this may help your DC in the long run

Student finance don't have a scooby where you live.

Um, but they have your home address, the university at which you are registered and what rate of finance you are claiming. The checks made have been on those claiming 'living elsewhere' rate maintenance loan but with a home address c15 miles or less from their university. Which presumably wouldn't happen in the OP's case.

Council tax is based on two or more people who count as adults for CT purposes,, living at the address. Adding a 'not adult', e.g. a full time student, to the household won't cause the CT liability to be reduced; it just won't cause it to go back up to full whack if the relative currently lives alone and is claiming the 25% single occupant reduction. (Or affect any other reduction for which the household is currently eligible).

He would be classed as 'living away from home' if he is paying rent to the relative and has a rental agreement. The loans company spot check and ask students to send a copy of their rental contract - my DS was asked to do it this year. I believe it's fairly easy to sort out, you can find templates online for rental agreements for lodgers.