Student Information

If everyone aged 18 or over living at your address is a full-time student or student nurse, then you may not have to pay Council Tax because your home may be exempt.

If you are a student and you share your address with someone who is not a full-time student then we can reduce the Council Tax bill by 25%.

If you are a student and you rent your address with two or more joint tenants who are not full-time students then there is no reduction and the people who are not students are liable to pay the Council Tax.

Students in halls of residence
Students living in halls of residence don't have to pay Council Tax.

If you are a student and your partner or dependant is from overseas
If you are a student and your partner or dependant is not a British citizen and is not allowed to work or claim benefits, you will both be exempt from paying the Council Tax (you do not have to pay it). You need to send us a copy of your partner's passport and your student certificate.

If you are a student living with an owner-occupier
If you live with someone who is not your partner and who owns the house you live in, that person must pay Council Tax. They may be able to claim a 25% discount because you are a student.

Part-time students
Part-time students must pay Council Tax, but they may be able to claim Council Tax Benefit.

Full-time students who share with part-time students
If you are a full-time student and you share a property with a joint tenant who is a part-time student, then we reduce the Council Tax bill by 25% and the part-time student is liable to pay the Council Tax.

To be counted as a student, you must be on a full-time course at a college or university in the UK.

A full-time course is one that:

• lasts for at least one academic year, or if the establishment does not have academic years, for at least one calendar year;
  
• you normally go to for at least 24 weeks in each academic or calendar year; and 
  
• you normally go to for an average of at least 21 hours a week of study, tuition, work experience or a combination of these.