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Registry Services

Council Tax Exemption

Council tax is charged by local authorities on homes in their area to pay for local public services, depending on the format of your course you may be liable to pay this.

Council Tax guidance

Is my mode of study eligible?

Learn more: Advice and Counselling webpage


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.

To be eligible for Council Tax exemption, your programme must last for at least one academic year, usually 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).

What does the University do for Council Tax?

For certain surrounding councils, Registry Services sends a monthly report of which students are currently enrolled with us and whether they are fully enrolled at that point, this usually takes place at the start of every month However, you must ensure that your term time address is up to date in MySIS.

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 are confused if you are eligible for council tax exemption with your mode of study, please see the Advice and Counselling service webpage on council tax for more information. 

Newham

Students living within the Borough of Newham will be included in our monthly reports as long as you are fully enrolled and your course meets the eligibility criteria for council tax exemption. It is vital you input your correct address in full on your Mysis account as this is where we determine which students have postcodes belonging to the relevant council. 

In addition, you will need to complete a student disregard application form for Newham Council with your application. 

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.

Redbridge

Students living within the Borough of Redbridge will be included in our monthly reports as long as you are fully enrolled and your course meets the eligibility criteria for council tax exemption. It is vital you input your correct address in full on your Mysis account as this is where we determine which students have postcodes belonging to the relevant council. 

In addition, you will need to complete a student disregard application form for Redbridge Council with your application. 

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.

Waltham Forest

Students living within the Borough of Waltham Forest will be included in our monthly reports as long as you are fully enrolled and your course meets the eligibility criteria for council tax exemption. It is vital you input your correct address in full on your Mysis account as this is where we determine which students have postcodes belonging to the relevant council. 

In addition, you will need to complete a student disregard application form for Waltham Forest Council with your application. 

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.

Tower Hamlets

Students living within the Borough of Tower Hamlets will be included in our monthly reports as long as you are fully enrolled and your course meets the eligibility criteria for council tax exemption. It is vital you input your correct address in full on your Mysis account as this is where we determine which students have postcodes belonging to the relevant council. 

For council tax exemption within Tower Hamlets you must:

  1. Fill in the online moving in form, this will provide you with a council tax account number for the following step. Please note it is not compulsory to add bank details to the moving-in form. 
  2. Complete the student disregard application form with the council tax account number you had received in the previous step.

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.

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. 

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