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What if students occupy your property?

Full-time students are disregarded when calculating the council tax bill so a discount or full exemption may be due depending on how many non-students also live there.

If the property is solely occupied by full-time students, you will receive the council tax bill showing that a full exemption has been granted.

If there is only one non-student a 25% discount will given and the bill, unless the property is deemed to be in multiple occupation, will be sent to the non-student tenant.

If you wish to claim a discount or exemption you must tell us the full names and moving in dates of your tenants. You must then ensure that the students send us their current student certificates or, if they attend Portsmouth University, confirmation of their course and student registration number.

Please keep us fully informed when students move in and out because once they leave the property it may no longer be possible to prove their student status.

Provided the same students hold the tenancy agreement and continue to study the same course any discounts and exemptions will continue through the university holidays. If the students change or they leave their course you must tell us straight away so we can review the bill.

We normally write to all our student households each year to review who the residents are and their student status. However, please do not wait for this review to tell us of any changes.

Remember, we can only award discounts and exemptions if we receive the appropriate proof of student status and are kept informed of who has moved in and out.