Council Tax
If you live in university halls, or in a house where everyone is classed as a full-time student for Council Tax purposes, you’ll be exempt from paying Council Tax. The rules are different if you live with someone who’s not a full-time student – but your household could still get a discount.
If everyone in the house is a full time student?
A place occupied only by full-time students is exempt from Council Tax. So if you live in university halls - or a house where everyone is a full-time student - you shouldn’t get a bill.
If you think you should be exempt but are still getting a bill you need to contact your local council to find out how you can apply for a council tax exemption.
Living with someone who is not a full time student
Council tax is charged to the house not the individual. If there is someone in the house who is not a full time student then the household will get a bill, but you may qualify for a discount on the full amount.
To find out if you are eligible for a council tax discount visit the advice centre to speak to an adviser or consult the council tax pages of the ‘directgov’ website.
Once you have found appropriate housing, you may wish to get student contents insurance to cover your possessions. Endsleigh have been covering students for over 40 years, and have been working with unions to make sure the polices are suitable. Why not try them for your possessions insurance.
If you are a student landlord, Endsleigh can also offer competitive landlord insurance to cover your building and/or contents. They can also include cover for malicious damage for your items that reside in the property. Get a quote today online.
If you are looking for assistance in finding accommodation whether it is private of university owned you can visit the LSE accommodation office.
If you have been provided with a contract by your future landlord you can bring it into us and we can read through to check everything is there to protect you as the tenant.
If you would like to use this service it will take 24 hours for us to read your contract so make sure you come into the advice centre at least a couple of days before deadline for signing the contract.
As of 2007 all deposits taken by landlords and letting agents for Assured Shorthold Tenancies in England and Wales, must be protected by a tenancy deposit protection scheme. This is a legal obligation which landlords and agents MUST comply with.
What is a tenancy deposit scheme?
The scheme allows tenants to get all or part of their deposit back when they are entitled to it and encourage tenants and landlords to make a clear agreement from the start on the condition of the property.
Tenancy Deposit Protection is designed to ensure:
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1. you get all or part of your deposit back, when you are entitled to it
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2. any disputes between you and your landlord or agent will be easier to resolve
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3. landlords and letting agents who do not protect tenancy deposits will have to pay their tenant back three times the deposit
How does a tenancy deposit scheme work?
At the beginning of a new tenancy agreement, pay your deposit to your landlord or agent as usual.
Within 14 days, the landlord or agent is required to give you details about how your deposit is protected including: the contact details of the tenancy deposit scheme, the contact details of the landlord or agent, how to apply for the release of the deposit, information explaining the purpose of the deposit, what to do if there is a dispute about the deposit
If you don’t get this information, ask your landlord or agent the simple question – ‘how is my deposit protected?’
You have a responsibility to return the property in the same condition that it was let to you, allowing for fair wear and tear.
NUS and UNIPOL have produced an information pack to help students understand scheme and recover their deposits back at the end of a dispute which can be found here.
More information on tenancy deposit schemes is available on the ‘directgov’ website