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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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:
SoupGiveMeSoup · 06/03/2022 12:05

I used to work in council tax, the university used to inform us of anyone who left their course or went part time so we would cross reference that with our records and amend accordingly. It might be different for those doing a masters ie it comes under a different department hence why she is currently getting away with it. The key word is tax and if at a later date they discover this they will charge her, she needs to be aware that could potentially happen.

The landlords in the area we covered all rented out their properties on a room basis and had a clause in the tenancy that said you must be a full time student. Therefore if they left their course they would lose that room too. Not wanting to pay council tax as a landlord is the reason for the long 51 week tenancies as the are furnished properties and therefore have a charge when they are unoccupied.

If your daughter is found out, she and she alone will be responsible for the 75% charge as the others are students and are exempt from paying council tax. Anyone who has uni children be aware that the council tax charge comes into effect the second their course is finished meaning 3rd years are often hit with bills for properties they are still renting. ie courses finish in May or June but the tenancy runs until Mid July or August, they are no longer students. Bills will be issued. Or it used to be, it is a while since I did that job.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 06/03/2022 12:05

when student dd was looking to leave her flatshare, she found someone, who unfortunately worked, so that didnt appease her flatmates due to the council tax issue

i guess op it is a chance she is taking, warn her about it, if she is prepared to take that risk, then so be it

Gardeningdream · 06/03/2022 12:07

Do you not have a very good relationship with your daughter and did you not have good friends when younger? I’m guessing not as you’d report a friend and all you’re worried about is if you will be financially impacted.

Nottogetapenny · 06/03/2022 12:08

ThoseTallTrees

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.

From one of your posts!

BungleandGeorge · 06/03/2022 12:11

Isn’t this the university’s responsibility? It’s not the same situation as a private rental. She won’t have seen any council tax paperwork and she won’t be sharing a tenancy with the other students. Presumably she has a permanent residence in addition? And she’s not working just studying so what classes as a ‘full time’ student? It’s possible that she may get a bill but I wouldn’t worry about anything else if it’s not a private rental. And she’s plenty old enough to sort herself out

Halllyup17 · 06/03/2022 12:11

Tell her to save the amount of the council tax payment every month, in case she gets slapped with a large bill. Then butt out.

Original poster
ThoseTallTrees · 06/03/2022 12:12

It’s a private student flat in a tower block of student flats @BungleandGeorge

I think the rules are quite clear in terms of part-time students being liable for council tax.

OP posts:
Weepingwillows12 · 06/03/2022 12:13

My DH lived in a flat with a group of 5 mates who were all students so exempt from council tax. One lad dropped out of his course a few weeks in and the council found out (I think he didn't submit the proof of being a student). It made the house in scope for council tax but he refused to pay it and the others had bailiffs at the door despite being able to prove they were students. They ended up paying it between them but it ruined the friendship.

KatyS36 · 06/03/2022 12:13

There is potentially a huge positive for your daughter in taking this risk in that she gets to live in halls for the full year, which can be a load of fun if it's your thing.

This alone may make the risk worthwhile in her case.

Whilst the risk has consequences, so do the necessary actions to remove the risk xx

DogsAndGin · 06/03/2022 12:15

@ThoseTallTrees

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.
What the heck?! I don’t get this at all. By reporting her you’d get the bill, so obviously there is huge incentive to not report her and zero incentive to report her!

What your DD is doing is very common and I would be shocked if she ever got caught. She probably supplied the ID/proof of uni course at the start of the tenancy, and that’s that. They don’t ask again. Tbh when I was at uni, hardly anyone bothered to supply the proof of student status.

Eggshausted · 06/03/2022 12:21

Why would other people report her? Don’t judge others by your own standards.

Regularsizedrudy · 06/03/2022 12:22

I can see why you are concerned. I would tell her one last time that you’ve warned her and you definitely WONT be bailing her out if it all goes tits up.

CushionSpiral · 06/03/2022 12:23

Leave her if her friends are happy!
If the council taxes is owed, she’ll be liable for the entire amount, not her friends. Maybe speak to her once more and say to her that if she gets hit with a bill for the full amount, then you aren’t in a position to help her out

FoxyFoxyLoxy · 06/03/2022 12:24

I can pretty much guarantee the implications of a part time student and council tax will not have crossed her flatmates' minds.

Viviennemary · 06/03/2022 12:25

She will be solely liable for the Council tax on the flat if she is found out. But chances are she won't be.

user1493494961 · 06/03/2022 12:25

She's an adult, if she gets a big Council Tax bill she will have to find the means to pay it. It's not up to you to bail her out.

BungleandGeorge · 06/03/2022 12:25

@ThoseTallTrees

It’s a private student flat in a tower block of student flats *@BungleandGeorge*

I think the rules are quite clear in terms of part-time students being liable for council tax.

Yes, full time student is 21 hours study a week which I’m guessing most people wouldn’t think of as ‘full time’ if they’re used to working! So is she not renting through the uni? She has a private landlord?
ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 06/03/2022 12:28

She’s 22, a fully fledged adult, and as such is responsible for her own choices / mistakes. If this was my ds I might say something - once - and then back off completely.

icelolly12 · 06/03/2022 12:29

If she's found out she is an adult and will have to deal with the consequences... that's it really.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 06/03/2022 12:30

Do be careful I hear that the Tower Of London is positively bulging with errant part-time students who have fraudulently stayed in accommodation on a similar basis. Shock

tempester28 · 06/03/2022 12:32

I think the worst thing that will happen is that she will be asked to leave of she may get away with it tk the end of term. If this is a halls residence and not a private rental. If it were a private rental I would say she would have a chance of being asked for the council tax.

tempester28 · 06/03/2022 12:33

How much would the council tax be? Presumably she would have to pay it anyway if she lived elsewhere.

RandomBasic · 06/03/2022 12:41

That's part of allowing her to become an adult. To make decisions then face the consequences.

There might be a huge fine. But the plus side is that they will often allow "£10 per week for X years repayment."

Yes, she might get a black mark against her name when renting in the future, but it is unlikely to be for more than like seven years.

tirednewmumm · 06/03/2022 12:42

@Wulfenite

I don't see why her friends would report her because surely if someone finds out and a bill is assigned to the property your daughter will be the only one eligible to pay it? The others will be full time students and so still exempt - she would get a single person's discount for being the only one paying but it would still all be on her. Maybe my information is out of date though.
This is right dh works for local council and confirmed
Nanny0gg · 06/03/2022 12:43

@ThoseTallTrees

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.
Is she stopping someone else having the room?