Council Tax bill for 3months in 2005

[Matt1011]

Dear all,

I moved into a one bed flat on 1st September 2003 until November 2006. I have always been exempted from council Tax being a student. I finished college in June 2005 and started university for a 3 year course in August 2005. Recently Harringey Council has been claiming council taxes from me for my "holiday periods" but I kept on challenging the charges with them until today when they called me and say they will now only send me a bill for the 3months between the time I had finished college i.e. June 2005 and started university i.e. September 2005.

Can they do that now?

[Matt1011]

Guys...I need your advice please...another thing I was always on student Visa during these 3months and was busy applying to unis etc...

[MrShed]

Officially during this period, you were NOT a student. Hence student exemption does NOT apply.

As bein unemployed(I assume?) during this period, you would have been entitled to Council Tax Benefit in some respect(although I doubt you can "backclaim" this).

You say you had a student visa - are you a foreign national?

[MrShed]

Sorry - I lie!!

How old were you during this period in 2005?

[Matt1011]

I am a foreign national. And I was 26.

[MrShed]

Ah OK. In that case council tax is payable for that period AFAIK - unsure of council tax status to do with foreign nationals, this would be your basis(if any) for not paying this bill.

[Matt1011]

Even though I was still on student status and applying towards uni studies....?

[MrShed]

Yes. But I do not know if the foreign national status will allow it to be excluded. But technically at that time you were not a student, so student exemption is not relevant.

[ss002d6252]

university holidays are covered if you hold a valid student exemption certificate for the period however the period between courses is not - the council are correct to charge you for the period between the courses.

[Matt1011]

ok guys got it. Thanks.