I' ve recieved a council tax bill, but I'm a student. Do I have to pay?

Question

I live with another person who works full time. Both our names are on the bill. Can I get my name taken off the bill as I dont want to be liable if its not paid? Obviously I will contribute what I can to the bill, but my flatmate (who i barely know) wants me to pay half and says that I legally have to as my name is on the bill. Please help!!

Answer 1

I wouldn't think just because you are a student that you can live rent free. The only way that would happen is if you were a dependent of the person you live with. You live there you pay half. Not just would you can. In a council apartment if you live there, your name has to be on the lease.

Answer 2

Council tax is worked on a household, not individual basis.  As a full-time student, you are not directly liable, so your flatmate will receive a single-occupancy discout, being the only elgible person in your household.  

As to whether you personally should cough up, that very much depends on your circumstances.  For example, when you moved into the property, did you sign a joint tenancy agreement?  (assuing the property is rented)  If so, you are technically both liable for any charges incurred on the property, it is just a matter of discretion as to whether or not your flatmate feels you should pay.  Explain to them that you are willing to contribute, but that it is simply not possible for you to meet half the expenses.  Arrange a payment plan that is as fair as possible.  But what about other utilities and essential payments?  Do you also only pay specifically for the electricity/gas/water that you use?  I don't expect so.  Unwanted bills are an unfortunate part of living independently, and it should have been something you considered before making your current living arrangements.

Answer 3

If two of you live there and you are a student, you are Council tax exempt and liability falls to the other person. He will get a 25% discount on the council Tax as he is classed as the only liable resident

Answer 4

You can try putting it to the council that you are a seperate household.  I have successfully done this in the past. You may be asked questions like do you share meals and do you have a seperate lock on your own room? Be prepared for them.

Council tax legislation is very bad at dealing with multi-occupancy properties.  In law you are equally liable if you are part of the same household, but morally your flatmate is being unfair in expecting you to pay half.  

Try contacting the CAB to see if they have any suggestions. They will be very familiar with such issues.

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Answer 5

Nope you are excempt as a student! he will hav to pay it in full, but will get a discount of 25% (Birmingham City Council - not sure if thats nationwide) for what will be classed as single occupancy

Answer 6

Council tax is charged PER HOUSEHOLD, not per person. However, if a household has only one 'eligible person' in it then you can claim a 25% discount from the full bill. If you are a FULL TIME student you are not an eligible person when they are counting for council tax, thus your household may only have one eligible person in it and you can claim this discount. You will need to get a council tax exemption statement from university and apply to the council for the discount. How you decide then to split this discounted bill is up to you to agree with your housemate, as you are still liable to pay this as a household. Perhaps he can pay 50% and you can pay the other 25%?

If a student and working person live together, then the situation with council tax should ALWAYS be decided and agreed in advance because this disagreement happens all the time. Anyway, at least you know now. Good luck! Hxx

Answer 7

A full time student studying for 21 hours a week or more is disregarded for the purposes of council tax - they are not charged anything. However, they must have supplied evidence that they are a full time student before any disregard can be applied.

Ask your uni or college for a  student certificate for the purpose of council tax (they issue them all the time) and then present it to the council and they will take your name off the bill.

Once your name is removed, you would have no liability and therefore you could not be charged.

At the moment, your flat mate is right. You are jointly and severally liable for council tax because you have not submitted your student certificate - the council have no way of knowing you should be disregarded unless you tell them.

Until you produce that certificate, you are liable to pay as charged, you must pay as billed during any dispute.

If you DO NOT produce your student cert, under joint and several liability you are responsible for the whole of the bill - and so is your flatmate, and it will be recovered from either or both of you.

He will get a 25% discount when you hand your cert in as the sole liable party.

Get the certificate quickly. If you decide to pay him half for now, when your disregard is granted, you know you won't ever get it back off him.

Answer 8

agree with the first answer, students are exempt and yr flatmate will get 25% discount for being only adult liable to pay in the house. as yr name is on the bill u can contact the council and ask them to sort it out.

Answer 9

Speak to the issuing office.

You say you are a student but not how old you are! I guess you are over 18 so it looks like you are liable to pay.

Check with the council first!

Answer 10

Go to your universitie's finance office. They should give you a council tax form which should exempt you from council tax. But I'm not sure if it covers your housemate (I'm guessing he's/she's not a student).

Best bet is ask when you get the form how it works or speak to the department which deals with it at your local council.