Student discounts and exemptions

Student exemptions

This exemption is applicable where all the occupants of a property are students.

You will be asked to supply a copy of your tenancy agreement. This is because sometimes the landlord is responsible for the council tax, rather than the tenants, as in the case of HMOs (house of multiple occupation).

The application guidance below varies depending on whether you are:

Students under 20 on a qualifying course (further education)

If you are under 20 you must be on a qualifying course. A qualifying course of education is one which:

  • lasts more than 3 calendar months
  • is equivalent or lower than 'A' Level standard
  • is not undertaken as a result of a person's employment
  • is not an evening course
  • must involve spending at least 12 hours per week at the educational establishment

Apply

A qualifying student over 20 or under 20 on a course of higher education

In order to qualify you must be doing a full-time course of education at a prescribed educational establishment. A prescribed educational establishment is:

  • a university, constituent college or other institution of a university
  • a theological college
  • any other institution established solely and mainly for the purpose of providing courses of further or higher education
  • an institution accredited by the Teacher Training Agency

A full-time course is one that:

  • lasts at least one academic or calendar year
  • requires attendance of at least 24 weeks during the academic or calendar year
  • requires an average of at least 21 hours a week of study, tuition or work experience.

A course is not full-time if the number of hours on work experience exceeds the combined periods of study or tuition. Apart from the initial training of teachers in schools.

Apply

Each student needs to complete the student application form. If there is one non-student occupier it may still be possible to qualify for a discount.

Each student need to provide a student certificate. The certificate should show the following information:

  • educational establishment's name and address
  • full name of the student
  • term-time address
  • student's date of birth
  • statement certifying that they are or have followed a course as a student or student nurse
  • date the course started and when it is expected to end
  • number of hours each week required to attend
  • official college/university stamp

Send your application using the evidence upload form

Foreign language assistants

A foreign language assistant will count as a student if they are :

  • registered with the British Council, and;
  • appointed as a foreign language assistant in a school or other educational establishment

Apply

Student nurses

A student nurse is someone studying for their first inclusion on the Nursing Register. Student nurses on Project 2000 are considered full-time students.

For nurses a prescribed educational establishment is a:

  • college of nursing and midwifery, or;
  • college of health established by a regional or district health authority

Apply

Foreign spouses or dependants of students

A person is disregarded if they are:

  • the wife, husband, civil partner or dependant of a student, and;
  • not a British Citizen

Apply

  • Complete the student application form
  • a copy of their passport, which shows a stamp stating that they are prevented by immigration regulations to work or claim benefits in the UK. They will only qualify if their partner has qualified for student status.
  • send it to us using the evidence upload form