A house in Lincoln lived in only by full-time students pays no council tax. At City of Lincoln Council's Band D charge of £2,323 a year, that exemption is worth about £194 a month — but only if you actually claim it.
| All-student household | Fully exempt |
| How to claim | Apply online through My Accounts — but if you live in shared student housing such as an HMO or in campus accommodation, your landlord will already have notified the council and you normally need do nothing. |
| Evidence they want | Usually none: 'Once you have applied we will confirm the student details with information provided by the educational provider, if we cannot prove your details directly we will need to be supplied with a student certificate which can be request from the educational provider.' |
| University sends your data directly | Yes |
| Band D charge, 2026/27 | £2,323 |
One of the clearest data-sharing councils in this batch: Lincoln verifies against the educational provider's own records and only asks for a certificate when it cannot. Landlords have their own route (the Student Occupied Accommodation Notification Form at lincoln.gov.uk/studentctax), which is why HMO and campus students usually never apply themselves. Watch the annual re-check: 'Student status will be checked annually even if you (or your tenants) have not moved address.' The exemption itself is confirmed on the council's Information on Council Tax page — 'Properties can be exempted from Council Tax or the charge reduced under certain circumstances, for example being occupied by one person, a disabled person or students.' Band D £2,323.08 is the 'Charge 2026-2027' column (2025-26 was £2,260.98), verified at https://www.lincoln.gov.uk/council-tax/bands-charges
Qualifying study is 21+ hours a week in term time over 24 weeks a year, or under-20s studying 12+ hours a week for 3+ months up to A-level/ONC/OND; correspondence courses, evening classes and day-release job-related courses are excluded.
The councils nearest City of Lincoln Council on the Band D charge — what the exemption is worth where you might have gone instead. The full table has every one.
| City | Council | Band D |
|---|---|---|
| Colchester | Colchester City Council | £2,241 |
| York | City of York Council | £2,270 |
| Leeds | Leeds City Council | £2,272 |
| Portsmouth | Portsmouth City Council | £2,292 |
| Hull | Hull City Council | £2,295 |
| Lincoln | City of Lincoln Council | £2,323 |
| Bradford | City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council | £2,333 |
| Birmingham | Birmingham City Council | £2,353 |
| Loughborough | Charnwood Borough Council | £2,378 |
| Bath | Bath and North East Somerset Council | £2,383 |
| Canterbury | Canterbury City Council | £2,398 |
No, not if every adult in the property is a full-time student — the household is exempt. The exemption has to be claimed; it does not apply itself just because you are a student.
Apply online through My Accounts — but if you live in shared student housing such as an HMO or in campus accommodation, your landlord will already have notified the council and you normally need do nothing.
Usually none: 'Once you have applied we will confirm the student details with information provided by the educational provider, if we cannot prove your details directly we will need to be supplied with a student certificate which can be request from the educational provider.'
Qualifying study is 21+ hours a week in term time over 24 weeks a year, or under-20s studying 12+ hours a week for 3+ months up to A-level/ONC/OND; correspondence courses, evening classes and day-release job-related courses are excluded.
Checked 18 August 2026 against lincoln.gov.uk. Councils change their forms and evidence rules; the council's own page is the authority when you claim.
Processes checked 19 August 2026 against each council's own pages. This is information, not advice, and the council's page is the authority when you claim.