A question about student housing and council tax

[Louisa911]

5 of us are renting a 6 bedroom house next year as a student house, and looking for another roomate to fill the 6th room. My boyfriend who lives 200 miles away would love to move here and get a job and live with us, but as he is not a full time student, he would make us qualify to pay council tax which we cannot afford. Is this correct?

Also if we did get another person to fill the 6th room, and my boyfriend still wanted to get a job here, how many nights could he stay with us, without making us pay council tax?

(or if he just lived in my room with me and halved my rent, would that still make him elegible for council tax?)

I'm guessing the answer to that last one is most definately yes, even if the landlord agreed to let that happen... but theres always a chance

Thanks

[FraserLFA]

Although it's potentially illegal could you not claim it's not his fixed address? I presume you'll go home at christmas, easter and summer? If you're living their 365 days a year this wouldn't work, but you might get away with saying he's staying their whilst working on a temporary basis.

[Louisa911]

I usually head home for a month at christmas, month at easter and around 3 months at summer.... along with some weekends at home. So basically we are only living there for 6 or 7 months of the year in total.

[FraserLFA]

If your boyfriend will be doing the same, i guess it's not his fixed residency and therefore, like with student accommodation, you shouldn't be charged council tax. It'd be worth checking with the council, but i think that's how it should work.

[Wings]

FraserLFA said:

If your boyfriend will be doing the same, i guess it's not his fixed residency and therefore, like with student accommodation, you shouldn't be charged council tax. It'd be worth checking with the council, but i think that's how it should work.

I do not think the Council would agree with you, so I would suggest to the OP that no check is carried out with the Council.

Any non student tenant/ permanent resident then involves the property being subjected to Council Tax.

The OP however is allowed to have a guest staying with her, the same which will not effect the zero council tax rating. Your guest however should not register on the electoral role list at your premises, or change postal or banking details to your address.