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Original poster

Student summoned to court for non payment of council tax

32 replies

fondde · 30/01/2025 17:20

DD is renting an apartment in London, she graduated last May, started a masters in September, kept the same apartment, was unemployed for the summer months but left UK to return home during those months. .

She has now had a court summons for non payment of council tax for the summer months when she was technically 'not a student'. she had already submitted the documents to prove she is a student, but they have said she has to pay up or go to court and then appeal.

Would appreciate any suggestions on an easy way to contest it, she thinks it's going to be about £1,000. Would going to court ruin any background checks for jobs or credit etc, is it better to just pay it and swallow the cost ? I suspect hiring a lawyer to deal with it would cost more than £1k.

OP posts:
Chemenger · 30/01/2025 17:24

what are the grounds for contesting this? For the summer months after graduation and before matriculation for her new degree programme she was not a student, and therefore she was liable for council tax.

Original poster
fondde · 30/01/2025 17:26

Chemenger · 30/01/2025 17:24

what are the grounds for contesting this? For the summer months after graduation and before matriculation for her new degree programme she was not a student, and therefore she was liable for council tax.

She was unemployed, had no income and at the same time was transitioning from one course to another.

OP posts:
LIZS · 30/01/2025 17:28

Sorry but she was legally liable between courses, from end of first until matriculation on her postgrad. Both dc have had similar.

LIZS · 30/01/2025 17:28

Did she sign on for uc and ct benefit?

Chemenger · 30/01/2025 17:29

fondde · 30/01/2025 17:26

She was unemployed, had no income and at the same time was transitioning from one course to another.

Show quote history

And? Having no money doesn’t exempt you from council tax.

Simonjt · 30/01/2025 17:31

fondde · 30/01/2025 17:26

She was unemployed, had no income and at the same time was transitioning from one course to another.

Show quote history

None of this exempts you from council tax, I went from a degree to masters, so between my degree ending in June and masters starting in October I was liable for council tax.

Anon1274 · 30/01/2025 17:31

She wasn’t ’technically’ not a student, she wasn’t a student. If you’re unemployed and have no income you still need to pay your bills, including council tax. If she was in receipt of certain benefits and living alone, she’s entitled to a discount

BeeCucumber · 30/01/2025 17:31

I believe your daughter is responsible for all the bills during the summer that she was away - rent, utility and council tax. Just pay it.

Original poster
fondde · 30/01/2025 17:33

Okay, that clears it up, we will pay it.

The council did tell her she could appeal it, but sounds like it is not worth it.

OP posts:
SpringBunnyHopHop · 30/01/2025 17:33

You can stop the summons if you contact them or set up a payment plan before the deadline date.

Original poster
fondde · 30/01/2025 17:34

Thanks for the info.

We don't live in UK, so wasn't sure if there were some exemptions for unemployed.

OP posts:
homemadepopcorn · 30/01/2025 17:36

I’m sure there are exemptions for unemployment. It seems specific to scenarios but it states in some cases unemployment can allow for a reduction in council tax

https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction

Apply for Council Tax Reduction

Apply to your local council for Council Tax Reduction if you're on a low income or benefits - this replaced Council Tax Benefit

https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction

Whyherewego · 30/01/2025 17:37

fondde · 30/01/2025 17:34

Thanks for the info.

We don't live in UK, so wasn't sure if there were some exemptions for unemployed.

There are various exemptions but you need to apply for them under the correct exemption category. You can't just figure that the council guesses that someone is exempt, they need to be told.
They will also always say you can appeal. That is just standard

UsedToBeAtAmber · 30/01/2025 17:50

If she was the sole adult she needs to check if Single Person Discount was in place for the period when she was between courses. This can be applied retrospectively and is a 25% discount.
If she was in receipt of benefits she could have applied for Council Tax Support . However this can't be backdated.
Some councils will withdraw the summons and court costs if the full balance is paid before the court date. She needs to contact them to check if SPD was in place.

Original poster
fondde · 30/01/2025 17:55

UsedToBeAtAmber · 30/01/2025 17:50

If she was the sole adult she needs to check if Single Person Discount was in place for the period when she was between courses. This can be applied retrospectively and is a 25% discount.
If she was in receipt of benefits she could have applied for Council Tax Support . However this can't be backdated.
Some councils will withdraw the summons and court costs if the full balance is paid before the court date. She needs to contact them to check if SPD was in place.

Thank you for that info, yes she is the only person living there.

She didn't apply for any benefits, we didn't know that was an option,, but anyway she didn't stay in the UK over the summer months.

OP posts:
LIZS · 30/01/2025 18:02

But yes if sole occupant she should claim the single person discount if not already allowed for.

JoyousPinkPeer · 30/01/2025 18:08

Just pay it.

Theunamedcat · 30/01/2025 18:12

Wouldn't it be reduced if you weren't in the country?

LIZS · 30/01/2025 18:13

Theunamedcat · 30/01/2025 18:12

Wouldn't it be reduced if you weren't in the country?

No.

Anon1274 · 30/01/2025 19:03

homemadepopcorn · 30/01/2025 17:36

I’m sure there are exemptions for unemployment. It seems specific to scenarios but it states in some cases unemployment can allow for a reduction in council tax

https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction

A reduction, yes. But if she is the sole person registered then the reduction should already be applied, though obviously it would be wise for her to check this. She will still be responsible for the vast majority of it though

AgreeableDragon · 30/01/2025 23:26

fondde · 30/01/2025 17:26

She was unemployed, had no income and at the same time was transitioning from one course to another.

Show quote history

That’s totally irrelevant! She was not a student during those months. Therefore she is liable to pay council tax during that period. There is not grey areas here.

Annony331 · 31/01/2025 00:01

She should have applied for an exemption. Youngest did masters and did not pay for the gap inbetween courses but check with your local council

Spirallingdownwards · 31/01/2025 00:03

fondde · 30/01/2025 17:26

She was unemployed, had no income and at the same time was transitioning from one course to another.

Show quote history

So she was NOT a student between graduation and starting her Masters so owes council tax for that period. Pay now including any court fees and costs of the summons to prevent her having a CCJ against her.

Spirallingdownwards · 31/01/2025 00:04

Annony331 · 31/01/2025 00:01

She should have applied for an exemption. Youngest did masters and did not pay for the gap inbetween courses but check with your local council

Exemption is not available for this period if it was an undergraduate degree and a standalone masters.

Annony331 · 31/01/2025 00:10

She did a honours degree and then a masters.