council tax.

The various council sites will have this information.

No.

If you are living in a property occupied only by students (like Halls of residence) you do not have to pay. If you are on a low income you do not have to pay the full amount. If you rent a room/bedsit in a house, you do not have to pay (the landlord should pay).

Beware that councils are reluctant to backdate claims for council tax benefits and discounts so unless you claim early for any the above reasons you could well get a demand for the full amount. If the students' union is any good where you are going they will confirm the above and provide the right forms.

Search on google for "student council tax" for more information.

Try this site

put in the post code you require, then follow the council information and then the council tax at the bottom. It is all graded to the different types of property.

PaulC

Yes, but only almost, which basically means No. Properties occupied only by students are exempt, but for other properties students don't count when determining which discount applies. So as soon as there is even just one non-student living there, the full 75% CT becomes payable. If that one person can't afford it, he'll either have to move out, or the students will have to contribute.

This is particularly problematic when, say, three students club together to rent a flat, and then one of them ceases to be a student. It can put a strain on a friendship. If the students can find another student with which to replace their ex-student, the ex-student is likely to become an ex-friend. If they can't, then it could work out more expensive for them to kick him out than to pay a 1/3 share of the 75% CT, because they would have to pay 1/2 the rent each instead of 1/3.

The situation can be exacerbated by HMO rules. You can have 3 students in a non-HMO provided two of them are related, but if one of the related ones is the non-student, they'll be difficult to replace, since you can't just bring in any old 3rd person if the flat isn't licenced for multiple occupation.

OK, my situation is that I'm looking to move to London with my girlfriend. She is a student. I am not. Since the council tax is on the property (rather than per person), I guess that whether she is liable or not does not change the total amount to pay.

What do you mean by the 75% CT (why not 100% CT)? Forgive my ignorance. Thanks.

100% is payable in respect of properties occupied by two or more people who count. Properties occupied by only one person get a 25% discount. The same applies if it's occupied by several people of which all but one are students. So it would apply to you too.

Do people who are unemployed pay CT? And how much do people get off if they are on low income? Thanks, again.

Of course they do. Just because their income comes from sources other than an employer, doesn't mean they should be let off.

It depends on their circumstances. So, presumably, if they have savings, they're expected to use them up first.

But I don't know the details and, to be honest, I'm glad.

My girlfiend owns her own flat and from August she will be moving in with me. Currently we both pay 75% council tax to our respective councils. What will happen with regards to council tax for each property after August?

Yours will go up to 100%. If she completely empties her flat, her CT will go down to 0% for 6 months and then will be whatever percentage the LA charges for 2nd homes. If she doesn't empty it the CT will be the 2nd home charge immediately (unless she want to pretend that it is empty).

Of course if it is let out, CT becomes the tenant's problem

tim

(long URL)

Robin

It's worth contacting the water board too. They will not levy a charge on an unoccupied, unfurnished property, provided they are told.

Yes. However, they may be entitled to claim Council Tax benefit to help cover the cost of it.