Council tax is one of the biggest household bills in the UK — so it's worth knowing exactly where you stand as a student in Hatfield. The good news: most students don't pay a penny. Here's how it works.
The basics: students are "disregarded"
For council tax purposes, full-time students are "disregarded", which is the official term for not being counted. If every adult living in a property is a full-time student, the home is completely exempt and there is no council tax bill at all. This applies right across England, including Hatfield, which falls under Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.
What counts as a "full-time student"?
To qualify for the exemption, your course generally needs to:
- last at least one academic or calendar year, and
- involve at least 21 hours of study per week.
Most undergraduate degrees at the University of Hertfordshire easily meet this. Your university can provide a council tax exemption certificate confirming your student status — keep it handy in case the council asks for proof.
What if not everyone is a student?
This is where it gets a little more nuanced:
- All students: the property is exempt — nothing to pay.
- One non-student adult: that person becomes liable for the bill, but can usually claim the 25% single-person discount because the students are disregarded.
- Two or more non-student adults: a full council tax bill applies, though the student residents themselves still aren't counted.
If your course finishes mid-tenancy (say you graduate in summer but your contract runs to September), your exemption can end on your course end date — so factor that into your plans.
Who pays council tax in a shared house?
Most of our Hatfield properties are Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) — shared houses where tenants rent individual rooms. For HMOs, the landlord is responsible for the council tax, not the tenants. And because our rooms are let with all bills included, council tax (where it applies) is already wrapped into your rent. You don't have to set anything up, split a bill, or worry about it.
Help! I got a council tax bill
Sometimes the council sends a bill simply because it doesn't yet have proof that you're a student. Don't panic and don't ignore it:
- Get your student certificate from the University.
- Send it to Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council with a note explaining everyone in the house is a full-time student.
- Keep a copy of everything you send.
If you're in one of our bills-included rooms, just message us and we'll help you sort it.
The bottom line
As a full-time University of Hertfordshire student, you almost certainly won't pay council tax in Hatfield — and in a bills-included room you don't have to think about it at all. That's one less bill to budget for on top of already-affordable rent.
This article is general information, not formal tax advice. Always check your own circumstances with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.