Student Wellbeing Services
Student Funding Service
Funding Menu
All Students - Money Matters
Council Tax
There is no council tax to pay where ALL the adults aged 18 or over in the household are full time students. The University provides details of all full time students to the local council tax office for the purposes of exemption from council tax.
If you live outside the Lancaster area and need to obtain an exemption certificate you should contact the Student Registry in University House who will supply proof of your full time student status for the purposes of council tax.
To order an exemption certificate online click here. Please note the council tax office will not accept evidence from any other source (e.g.your academic department).
From April 1st 2004 students have been exempted from joint and several liability for council tax when sharing a property with other non-students.www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/30026--j.htm#74
(Joint and several liability means that where more than one person is liable for the Council Tax, any one or all of them can be held responsible for the whole bill)
Students can get council tax benefit if they get income support, (income based) job seekers allowance or satisfy the rules for housing benefit in the normal way. Most students cannot claim council tax benefit, unless they have children or a disability. If the student has a heterosexual partner who is not a student, the partner can claim council tax benefit for both of them. The level of benefit will depend upon the joint income and capital held.
For queries contact the Lancaster Council Tax office:
Council Tax - General 582900 or e-mail: ctax@lancaster.gov.uk
