If you live in university halls, or in a house where everyone is classed as a full-time student, you’ll be exempt from paying Council Tax.
You’ll usually be considered a full-time student for Council Tax purposes if you are enrolled to attend a course of education lasting for at least one academic or calendar year - and which you are normally required to attend for at least 24 weeks out of the year and study for at least 21 hours per week during term time.
For more information about students and Council Tax please click here|.
Students who are registered as part-time, writing-up previously part-time, deferred assessment or re-sit not in attendance are not eligible for Council Tax exemption. Students who are registered as repeat in attendance are eligible for Council Tax exemption, provided they are repeating a minimum of 60 credits.
Students who are registered as writing-up previously full-time and are in their 1st year of this status, are required as per the Code of Practice to undertake an average of 21 hours of study a week for a minimum of 24 weeks of the year. As such they are eligible to apply for Council Tax exemption. Once they have completed their 1st year of writing up or have submitted their thesis (whichever is sooner) they are no longer eligible for Council Tax exemption. If you submit your thesis within 24 weeks of the anniversary of your start date, in your 1st year of writing-up, you should notify your local council of the date of submission as you will no longer qualify for exemption.
The College provides a list of students and their mode of study (e.g. full-time) to Runnymede Borough Council for Council Tax assessment purposes, therefore if you live in the Runnymede area you may not need to request a letter to prove your student status unless you receive a Council Tax bill.
If you are requesting a letter for Council Tax purposes please ensure you provide the name of the Council you are applying to for exemption (e.g. Spelthorne Borough Council) as the letter must be addressed directly to them.