Council Tax Exemption
Council Tax is charged on the basis that there are a minimum of two adults living in the dwelling. When counting the number of adult residents, full-time students are ignored.
The council tax rules say that you will count as a student if you are on a full time programme of study at a recognised educational establishment. The programme must:
- last for at least one academic year, and
- normally require attendance of at least 24 weeks in an academic year, and
- normally require an average of at least 21 hours study per week during term-time (this does not mean 21 hours of supervised study – it can also include periods of study by yourself).
Queen Mary reports Council Tax exemption for students living in the following boroughs, directly to the relevant council:
- Newham
- Redbridge
- Tower Hamlets
- Waltham Forest
However, you must ensure that your term time address is up to date in MySIS.
If you live in one of the following boroughs you must also complete the council's student disregard form and return it to them in order for your exemption to be processed:
Newham: student disregard application form
Redbridge: student disregard application form
Tower Hamlets: student disregard application form (This form will ask you to provide a Council Tax Account number. To get this you would first need to complete the online moving in form) it is not compulsory to add bank details to the moving-in form.
Waltham Forest: student disregard application form (Before this you would need to have created an online Council Tax account)
Please note: The Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest disregard forms will ask you to upload a student certificate. As a Queen Mary student you will not need to supply this, please just upload a blank Word document in this part of the form.
For those living in other Council boroughs, you will need to provide the Council with proof you are a full-time student. To evidence your student status you can download your Student Status Letter from your Gradintelligence account.
If you meet the above criteria and have submitted your disregard application form and Student Status Letter (if required) but you have been charged Council Tax and think this is incorrect, please contact us via studentenquiry@qmul.ac.uk so that we can look into this for you. Please confirm your full address and post code when contacting us.
