If you've just received a council tax bill from Runnymede Borough Council, make sure you read this article from our Advice Centre. They've also put together FAQs to guide you through everything you need to know.
Have you just received a council tax bill from Runnymede Borough Council?
Please don't ignore it, read on to make sure you know what you need to do next.
What is council tax?
Council tax is collected by your local council to pay for services in your community, such as bin collection and social care. You can read more about it here.
Aren't students exempt from paying it?
Yes, full-time students are exempt when it comes to council tax but you do have to prove your student status by downloading your student certificate. If you haven’t already done this, email your certificate to Runnymede Borough Council now, letting them know when your tenancy ends to avoid problems.
The problem lies in the fact that your full-time student status ends on the last day of your final academic year, which is Friday 9 June for final-year undergraduates this year. At this point, Runnymede Borough Council can start charging final-year students for council tax.
This is why some of you have already received your bills and will have to pay council tax from 9 June until the end of your tenancy.
What support is available?
After years of fighting for students' rights on the issue of council tax, our Advice Centre has built up extensive knowledge and has put together an FAQs document to help you understand this next stage. In the document, there is advice about what to do if you can’t afford your bill and if you’re being wrongly charged.
Read the FAQs
However, we know that sometimes, you just want to speak to a human, so we are happy to make individual or group appointments for you so you can fire away with your questions. Just email us with a brief summary of your situation and a list of questions, asking for an appointment.
Our Advice Centre can also provide a free bill-checking service:
- Email us with a picture of your bill and the subject ‘Council Tax Bill Check Request’
- Include a list of all housemates’ full names and year of study
- Let us know when your tenancy ends
Please see our Cleaning Top Tips and Private Housing Leaving Guide for the latest information about your end-of-tenancy rights and obligations.
You can also check out our Housing Advice page for other important information, and if you have any other questions just get in touch!