Dear , I just received a call from council that my tenants has not paid for council tax starting from 2022. They are student and now they cannot apply for the exemption . What should I do ? They should not have that money to pay . And I am landlord and I have to pay first ? What should I do ? I am so shock . This is about 3xxx !!!
Ps : it is state on the contract clearly that they have to pay for the council tax .
I don’t know what to do 
Please kindly advise 
Is it a group contract or let on a room by room basis?
If the tenant is responsible for the council tax then they are responsible but …
You should get the students to get student certificates from their academic institution backdated for the duration of the tenancy and submit that to the LA .
If the LA still don’t accept it tell the LA you will take the matter to the ombudsman and your local MP.
The government website has clear information on student exemptions.
The LA’s are struggling financially and make up any excuse to bill you
You have to stand your ground and fight it
If in doubt speak to the landlord association legal team
Thank you for your reply. I rent out the whole apartment to them . Hope things could be fixed soon .
How many students? Is it a licensed HMO? Is it a single tenancy agreement? If you have to pay it, you can apply to the deposit scheme to have it deducted from their deposit or use MCOL to sue them for it if they refuse to pay.
I would have thought that the Council would still exempt them if they are able to provide evidence that they were full time students.
foreign students or UK nationals? If the latter, did they have guarantors? You might need them.
Not hmo, they have entire apartment, the bad side is the deposit cannot cover their outstanding council tax😢
They are foreign phd student 
Prior to them moving in, who was responsible for the council tax?
If its a single tenancy agreement then the tenants remain legally liable for the Council tax if its a fixed term tenancy or a Contractual Periodic Tenancy. You should remind the Council of this if they try to bill you.
Incidently, if its 3 or more people in the property, its an HMO whether its licensable or not.
Me is responsible for the tax
I could very easily be an HMO. How many people in it ?
OK. So, when the students moved in, did you contact the council to let them know the names of the new tenants and that they were students? Did you give a copy of the signed tenancy agreement to the council? Do you have proof that you contacted the council about this? And did the council acknowledge the change of responsibility?
Thank you so much ! It’s only 2 students
Thank you , yes , I have missed telling the council about new tenant moving in . As I asked the tenant to do it . I am so careless
If you’ve rented the complete letting unit to these tenants, it is their responsibility to pay the council tax up to the stated term of the tenancy agreement.
Even if there is no fixed term, or it has reverted to a periodic monthly tenancy, as long as they still occupy the property, they are liable for the council tax.
Not your problem, tell the council to take a hike.
Not a problem. It is the occupants liability and theirs to declare it. Send the council a copy of your Tenancy Agreement and note you are not liable for their council tax against a legitimate TA with tenants still in occupation.
Stop worrying, from what you’ve said it sounds like the council have not got a leg to stand on, they are simply trying it on.
Thank you for comforting me !
Hiya, yes I have had this problem too—several times in a row ----tenants move out and did not pay utilities. Now I insist they provide me with proof of payment in full before I release their deposit monies…
First provide the Council with a copy of the Assured Tenancy Agreement to prove they are liable not you. If you have contact details and forwarding addresses/guarantor info I’d provide this info to the Council too!
The council
The Deposit Protection vs Utility Bills is a bit of a grey area tbh --I have a tenant at the mo who is disputing the last day and wont pay as he checked out at 11am [legally he still had possession till 11pm] but Letting Agent says can not be with held from Deposit as it is an individual thing —grey area but if you give Council the details above they can persue the tenants —and they are swift at issuing court proceeding vs non payers !!!
So let them deal with your students
Good Luck
Your arguing over ‘one days’ council tax or Utilty bills?
Absolutely I am !!! Its called F_U - money…and you have abused my kindness!
I gave the tenant a rent reduction as single dad with son
…I did not increase the rent on renewal…
I went into the flat to renew EPC and can not unsee the state of my property — first time in 35 years I cried…gave tenant instructions to remedy stains, defaced walls etc…and expect an inspection visit pre-renewal. Instead he quit…
his dad is my Letting Agents maintenance guy-----he pitched in to abuse me as a rogue Landlord duh demanding to know how much I was going to with hold from his poor son?
Well, now since this was before the Inventory check out [I paid for of course] was done so obviously I DK!!! This dear daddy reduced me to tears --yet again------as exact opposite was true. I told Daddy to go reccy the state of the place -----hmm then he backed down and apologised but his mates at my Letting Agency are siding with sonny Jim and as the MYDoposit cert is in their name not mine [mistake do not let Agents do this as I now know] even though I paid for it [again] I can not serve my deduction evidence to challenge the tenant at arbitration …
After tenant checked out not one but 3 neighbours advised he always lived there with a girlfriend
—not therefore deserving of the single person rent deduction…and in violation of terms of the agreement…
I am extremely good and reasonable landlord —it just cost me £3,500 to fix the place up, plus £850 new garden fencing, plus £499 new fridge freezer------
Do the maths, eh? Tenant i arguing about very reasonable deductions — and all this agro this creates for me.
If my reasonable lines get crossed, then YES you have to pay. And this dear know all is legally liable to pay the disputed one day
What would you like me to do? Hoover up yet more s*it…?
Not happening, nor will I be kind again…
in fact I’m going to quit this pro-tenant rigged game—
Do not need scarasm from you Karl11 …thanks
Oh dear. Sorry to hear you’ve had such a hard time.
For your own sanity though I would recommend going after the big items which you can prove and not worrying about the little items that may consume you without paying off.
In your place I would change agents then take said tenant to court for damages. If you can get neighbours to submit statements that he was living with his girlfriend you may also be able to sue for the single person occupancy (although this is more of a long shot but worth a try if you’re going to court).