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Higher education

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Original poster

DD fraudulently living in student flat for five months

159 replies

ThoseTallTrees · 06/03/2022 11:12

DD is 22 and started a masters degree but went part time two weeks into the term.

Since then she has effectively been fraudulently living in student accommodation which she is paying for from a legacy from a grandparent. She can’t live there as a part time student and obviously should be paying council tax.

We have repeatedly talked to her about this but she says she wants to stay the whole year and no one will find out - and that a friend of hers is doing the same.

Personally I’m surprised that one of her other friends hasn’t reported her but so far not. It’s been nearly five months.

Is she going to get away with it? If not, I hat might the penalty be?

OP posts:
tackling · 06/03/2022 11:14

I don't get it. Why on earth would her friends report her? And why would anyone else know or care? Confused

SW1amp · 06/03/2022 11:16

Fraudulent how?

You’d have to have the most pathetic of lives to report a friend for this…

Original poster
ThoseTallTrees · 06/03/2022 11:17

Student accommodation is for full-time students only, which is why the properties are exempt from council tax.

Part-time students pay council tax, and therefore the whole property could be liable for payment? I assume.

OP posts:
Ncwinc · 06/03/2022 11:18

Why on earth would a friend report her?

Original poster
ThoseTallTrees · 06/03/2022 11:18

Basically the properties and leases are set up in such a way that excludes everyone from council tax. Part-time students can’t take advantage of this.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThoseTallTrees · 06/03/2022 11:19

I would report her if I was there because I’d be worried I’d be slapped with a five month council tax bill! There are 8 of them in the flat.

OP posts:
Ncwinc · 06/03/2022 11:21

If anyone reports her they would end up having to pay council tax!

ChrisSays · 06/03/2022 11:21

I would be worried too, I understand that she is meant to pay council tax as part time. I would imagine there will be some sort of computer cross referencing in the next year? You have tried to warn her though, not sure what else you can do.

Original poster
ThoseTallTrees · 06/03/2022 11:22

But if they don’t report her, and she stays for the year - and then someone finds out: won’t that be worse/more expensive?

OP posts:
ENoeuf · 06/03/2022 11:22

Surely she would be liable for 75% council tax if anyone finds out? Is that what you are saying? I think halls are just exempt so I don’t know what the mechanism would be for the council to apply it, or even if they would?

Original poster
ThoseTallTrees · 06/03/2022 11:23

I thought so too @ChrisSays but maybe there won’t be any cross referencing. I don’t suppose the uni has to alert anyone that she’s no longer a FT student - and she is refusing to do so.

OP posts:
DropYourSword · 06/03/2022 11:23

In halls in my first year one of the guys quit his course completely but stayed for the rest of the year.
Wouldn't have occurred to any of us to "report" him!
I don't think it's that likely that any of her friends are going to report her. And, she's 22. If you have advised her she shouldn't be doing this and she's chosen to ignore you I'd just let her be. She can deal with the consequences herself in the event they ever arise.

User428690 · 06/03/2022 11:23

Sure the non student pays the council tax, DS used to live in a student house and paid the council tax, the other students didn't pay it.

LawnFever · 06/03/2022 11:23

Your daughter is an adult, you sound like you want to get her in trouble for something really quite inconsequential.

Keep your nose out, none of your business.

Original poster
ThoseTallTrees · 06/03/2022 11:24

@ENoeuf halls are only exempt because they only allow full time students to stay there. That’s what I mean by her being fraudulent.

OP posts:
ChrisSays · 06/03/2022 11:24

@ThoseTallTrees

But if they don’t report her, and she stays for the year - and then someone finds out: won’t that be worse/more expensive?
That happened to the daughter of someone we know but it was private accommodation and parents were unaware they had been kicked off the course. They had to pay the council tax demand but I don’t know how the council found out.
titchy · 06/03/2022 11:24

What cross referencing could there possibly be?

Ncwinc · 06/03/2022 11:24

She should be thankful you’re not one of her friends!

Original poster
ThoseTallTrees · 06/03/2022 11:25

@LawnFever I don’t want to “get her into trouble” - I was hoping this would have been resolved by now. My main concern TBH is that she might get a massive bill and then come asking us for help.

OP posts:
DropYourSword · 06/03/2022 11:26

[quote ThoseTallTrees]@LawnFever I don’t want to “get her into trouble” - I was hoping this would have been resolved by now. My main concern TBH is that she might get a massive bill and then come asking us for help.[/quote]
So, tell her there's no way you'd ever report her )and absolutely don't!) but also tell her there's no way you'd bail her out financially in the unlikely event it becomes an issue.

Original poster
ThoseTallTrees · 06/03/2022 11:27

Keep your nose out, none of your business.

I’m quite worried she might get into trouble - debt or some sort of record that will make it hard for to rent again.

OP posts:
yoyobaby · 06/03/2022 11:27

Why would her friends report her thank God you're not her friend🤦‍♀️

ChoiceMummy · 06/03/2022 11:28

@Ncwinc

If anyone reports her they would end up having to pay council tax!
This is the reality and your child would morally be solely responsible for it, but legally they'd all be responsible.

Unless a HMO...

Original poster
ThoseTallTrees · 06/03/2022 11:28

I’m certainly not going to report her! Where have I suggested that?

OP posts:
Sundancerintherain · 06/03/2022 11:29

It comes across that you dont like your daughter much.
She is an adult, if she does then have to pay it's her concern, not yours.