Do Students Pay Council Tax? Exemptions and Discounts Explained

If you are a full-time student, you may not have to pay council tax at all. GOV.UK is clear: households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay it. But the rules depend on your course and on who you live with, and the exemption is not always applied automatically. This guide explains who counts as a student, what happens in mixed households, and how to apply.

The rules below are GOV.UK’s for England.

The basic rule

GOV.UK says: “Households where everyone’s a full-time student do not have to pay Council Tax.” If you still get a bill, you can apply for an exemption.

So a house where every resident is a full-time student is exempt. A house with even one person who is not a full-time student gets a bill, although that bill may be reduced.

What counts as a full-time student

GOV.UK sets two tests.

Most courses

Your course must:

• last at least 1 year, and
• involve at least 21 hours of study per week

That covers most full-time university and college degrees.

Under 20 and studying up to A level

If you are under 20 and studying for a qualification up to A level, your course must:

• last at least 3 months, and
• involve at least 12 hours of study per week

Part-time courses that fall below these hours do not count.

Living with people who are not students

GOV.UK says: “You’ll get a Council Tax bill if there’s someone in your household who’s not a full-time student.” The household may still qualify for a discount.

Here is why. GOV.UK says a full council tax bill is based on at least 2 adults living in a home, and some people are “disregarded”, meaning they are not counted. Certain full-time students are among the disregarded groups.

That leads to the 25% discount. GOV.UK says you get 25% off if you pay council tax and either you live on your own, or everyone else in your home is disregarded. So if one person who is not a student lives with full-time students, that person may count as living alone for council tax purposes, and get 25% off.

Some examples

Household	What usually happens
Four full-time students	No council tax; apply for the exemption if billed
Three full-time students and one worker	A bill, possibly with 25% off
Two workers and two full-time students	A bill; the workers count, so no single person discount

Every case depends on the individuals, so check with your council.

How to apply

GOV.UK says you need to apply for a council tax discount or an exemption, even if you are disregarded. Use the GOV.UK “Apply for a Council Tax discount” service, which sends you to your own council.

Have ready:

• your address and the names of everyone who lives there
• proof that each student is on a full-time course, if the council asks for it (your university or college is the place to ask)
• the date each person moved in

Apply as soon as you move in. If you receive a bill before your exemption is confirmed, contact the council rather than ignoring it.

In a shared house

Who pays council tax in a shared house can depend on your tenancy. In some shared houses the landlord is liable rather than the tenants. Our guide to house share bills explains how councils treat joint tenancies and houses in multiple occupation.

Other bills students still pay

An exemption from council tax does not cover your other bills. Students usually still pay:

• energy, unless included in rent
• broadband
• water, unless included in rent
• a TV licence, if anyone watches live TV or uses BBC iPlayer

Our moving out bills checklist covers each of these, and our TV licence guide explains when you need one.

Keep your bills in one place

Student budgets are tight and loans arrive in chunks, so knowing exactly when each bill leaves matters. A bill tracker like Billo lists every bill with its due date and reminds you 3 days before each one, which helps when your money lands once a term.

Summary

• All full-time students in a home: no council tax.
• Full-time means at least 1 year and 21 hours a week, or 3 months and 12 hours if you are under 20 and studying up to A level.
• Live with a non-student and there will be a bill, often with a discount.
• You need to apply for the exemption or discount through GOV.UK and your council.