Rough Cut: 2009/10 Council Tax
Produced by Middlesex University Money, Welfare and International Advice Service
The purpose of this leaflet is to give a very basic However, if you are the sole owner of the property
overview of council tax and how studying a degree and live with others as your tenants, this means
course at University may affect your obligation to you have higher status than the other occupants
pay. The rules are complicated and we cannot and you will be liable for CT. If you feel that this
cover every scenario here; if you have any doubts describes your situation, seek advice from the
about your status always seek advice. Welfare Service as you may qualify for a reduction.
What is Council Tax? How do I prove I am a full-time student?
Local Authorities or Boroughs provide a variety of The University will provide you with written
services for people who live in their area, for confirmation that you are a full-time student which
example, rubbish collection. In order to finance you must give to your Local Authority; this is called
these services they levy a charge on all households a Council Tax Exemption Certificate
in their area which is called Council Tax (CT).
The amount of CT you pay reflects the value of the How do I get an Exemption Certificate?
property you live in and the number of people who You can order an Exemption Certificate on MISIS
live with you. Self Service. You must be enrolled and should be
attending a full-time programme. This will confirm
How does being a student affect CT? your enrolment status, programme title, mode of
To put it very simply, full-time students who live on study, start date, end date, name and date of
their own are considered invisible for CT purposes. birth.
This means they are not expected to pay. This certificate should cover the period from which
you enrol until the date you complete or withdraw
What happens if I live with other students?
As long as all the students living in the household from your course. It will also cover the summer
are full-time, you will not be required to pay. vacation periods. However, if at any time you
However, you must all provide the Local Authority interrupt, are not attending but completing a
with proof you are full-time students. resit/deferred work, are a deferred finalist, or you
have a debt with the University, you may have
What happens if I live with non students? difficulty ordering a certificate from MISIS. We
If you live with one other adult - this could be a suggest you visit the welfare service if you
friend, your spouse or civil partner who is not a encounter this problem, or email
full-time student - there will be a CT charge. letterrequests@mdx.ac.uk
However, you should still provide the Local Authority Note: Some LA’s require you to complete a form in
with proof you are a full-time student and that will addition to supplying the CT exemption Cert.
grant a 25% discount from the bill. If you live with
more than one non-student the 25% discount is lost When should I apply?
and the full charge will be made for the property. If you have not done so already, apply now. We
If this is the case you will have to work out how strongly advise that you get your Exemption
to divide the bill. If you live with people who are Certificate at the very start of your course to avoid
earning good salaries they may be prepared to pay problems later down the line.
the whole amount. However, this doesn’t always
What happens if I live in University halls?
work in practice and you may want to think about Don’t worry - all University halls are exempt from
looking for student-only accommodation. If you do CT, so you don’t need an Exemption Certificate.
this, don’t forget your tenancy obligations, and
always seek advice first. Alternatively, if the other I am an international student. Do I have to
person/people in your household are on a low pay?
income they may be eligible for Council Tax Benefit International students are also disregarded for CT
to reduce the charge, so tell them to seek advice purposes and should follow the same procedures
from the local Citizens Advice Bureau or contact the described above. However, be aware that if you
CT department of the Local Authority. arrive in the UK before you enrol, or stay on after
your course ends you will be liable to pay for these
periods. feel we have not covered a situation that affects
If you live with your spouse or civil partner who you, or you still feel puzzled about your liability,
has permission to stay as your dependant, you will then we strongly suggest you seek advice from the
both be exempt. However, in addition to your Welfare Service.
Exemption Certificate you should also send a copy
of the sticker in your spouse or civil partner’s The Money, Welfare and International Advice
passport to the Local Authority, showing their visa Service
gives them no right to public funds. This restriction Archway: Chloe Berman, ext. 6182
is what should trigger the LA to amend any CT c.berman@mdx.ac.uk
bills. Cat Hill: Kevin Ward, ext. 5312
Note: At the time of going to print - the outcome k.ward@mdx.ac.uk
of a Council Tax Tribunal, has raised some Hendon:
questions as to whether the spouse/civil partner Julie Roberts/Jude Cringle/Kevin Ward,
or dependants of an International Student will have ext. 6527/6482/6589
to prove that they are unable to work in order for j.roberts@mdx.ac.uk
the household to qualify for full Council Tax j.cringle@mdx.ac.uk
exemption. k.ward@mdx.ac.uk
We suggest you follow the above guidance regarding Christine Struwe, Visa and Immigration Adviser
obtaining a CT Exemption Certificate. If you have ext. 5917, c.struwe@mdx.ac.uk
problems seek advice from the Money, Welfare and Trent Park:
International Advice Service. Geraldine Bailey, Head of Service ext. 6074
g.bailey@mdx.ac.uk
What happens if I am a part-time student? Christine Struwe, (Wednesdays only) ext. 5326
Part-time students are expected to pay CT and c.struwe@mdx.ac.uk
therefore do not qualify for an Exemption Certificate. You may also be interested in looking at some of
But remember that if you have a low income you our other Rough Cut information leaflets. These can
may qualify for Council Tax Benefit, which could be found at
cover all or some of your CT liability. http://www.mdx.ac.uk/24-7/mwas/rc.htm
What if I am re-taking credits on a part-time Middlesex University Money, Welfare and International Advice
basis? Service have made every effort to ensure that the information
If you were enrolled on a full-time course but have contained in this leaflet is accurate. Middlesex University
been told by the University that you need to retake however, cannot be held responsible for any omissions or
credits on a part-time basis, you need not errors. This publication can only be a guide and is not
intended to replace the complex and diverse legislation
worry; you are still considered as a full-time student covered. Statutes and regulations may change during the
and will not be expected to pay CT. year without notice. If in doubt seek independent advice.
I am due to enrol on a post graduate course.
What happens in the summer?
When you finish your degree course you will be
liable for CT throughout the summer period before
you start your post-graduate study. This is because
the Exemption Certificate only covers the duration
of your degree. If your degree finishes your
exemption finishes.
When you enrol on your post-graduate course you
will need to apply for another Exemption Certificate,
but remember the course must be full-time and be
of at least one year’s duration.
Any Questions?
As we have already stated in the introduction, this
leaflet is only meant to give you a basic overview
of procedures surrounding council tax liability. If you