If you live in university halls, or in a house where everyone is classed as a full-time student for Council Tax purposes, you’ll be exempt from paying Council Tax.
Who counts as a full time student? / What you need to do / Living with non-students /
Telling us about a change / More information about discounts and exemptions
Who counts as a full-time student for Council Tax purposes?
You’ll usually be considered a full-time student for Council Tax purposes if:
- you are enrolled on a course of education lasting for at least one academic or calendar year. As long as you’re normally required to undertake periods of study, tuition or work experience for at least 24 weeks out of the year, which taken together amount to an average of at least 21 hours per week.
- you’re under 20 and your course leads to a qualification up to (but not above) A level standard or equivalent. As long as it lasts for more than three months and involves more than 12 hours of study per week.
What you need to do…
If you’ve moved into university accommodation or halls of residence, you don’t need to do anything. It’s the responsibility of the university to inform us that only students live in their accommodation.
If you’ve moved into other accommodation, we’ll need to confirm your student status in order to grant your exemption. You need to register with your university or college at the beginning of the academic year so we can do this. Please remember to use your Bath & North East Somerset address when registering.
Students at Bath Spa University and the University of Bath
We’ll be able to validate your student status with the university directly, as long as you agree for your details to be passed to us when you register. To do this you must leave the tick box at the bottom of the online registration form checked.
Students at other institutions
If you are studying at a different institution, you’ll need to get in touch with us. You can either phone us on 01225 47 77 77 and select option 1, or complete the online exemption form.
We may be able to contact the establishment ourselves to confirm your student status, or we may ask you to provide your Student Certificate. A Student Certificate can be obtained from the Student Administrator at your college or university. If you’re able to scan a copy of your certificate, you can email it to us at counciltax@bathnes.gov.uk. Alternatively you can post a copy to the address at the bottom of this page, or visit us at Council Connect in Bath, Keynsham or Midsomer Norton.
If you live with someone who’s not a full-time student…
If you’re a full-time student and you live with someone who isn’t, in most cases your household will receive a Council Tax bill. Depending on who else lives with you, your household might be able to get a discount (or in some cases an exemption). For example:
- If you live with only one parent or someone else who isn’t a full-time student, and no other adults live in the property, we can reduce the bill by 25%.
For more information about other discounts your household could qualify for, please visit the discounts and exemptions page.
You must tell us about any of the following changes…
- If you leave your course early you will no longer be exempt from paying Council Tax. Even if you live in a property with other students, you will become liable to pay Council Tax from the date you left your course.
- If you or any of the people you live with cease to be students.
- If you or anyone else moves in or out of the property before the end of the tenancy agreement. You must also let your landlord or letting agent know.
If you have a student exemption or discount you must tell us within 21 days of any change in your circumstances that could affect it. Failure to inform us about a change in your circumstances may lead to a penalty. See the main discounts and exemptions page for more information.