Student council tax exemption
What it really means
A household where everyone is a full-time student normally pays no council tax, but you must apply to the council with proof from your university. If you live with non-students, the bill may only be reduced. See GOV.UK for how to apply.
Context, tips & common mistakes
Full-time students are 'disregarded' for council tax, and a household where everyone is a full-time student pays nothing — but the exemption is claimed, not automatic. When the council's bill or enquiry letter arrives (it will), respond by applying for the exemption through the council website, attaching the certificate of student status your university issues on request or via its portal. Ignoring the letters because 'students don't pay' is the classic mistake that ends in court summons letters for a debt you never owed.
Mixed households get complicated: one non-student in a house of students typically gets a 25% single-occupier-style discount rather than exemption, and the non-student is the one liable — worth understanding before signing a mixed tenancy. Term gaps and course ends matter too: liability can start the day your course officially finishes, not graduation day.