A house in Reading lived in only by full-time students pays no council tax. At Reading Borough Council's Band D charge of £2,613 a year, that exemption is worth about £218 a month — but only if you actually claim it.
| All-student household | Fully exempt |
| How to claim | Apply online through Reading MyAccount using the 'Apply for a full-time student discount' form. |
| Evidence they want | University of Reading students supply only their Student ID number; students at every other institution must upload a Council Tax student exemption certificate from the registrar. 'We are unable to accept any other forms of proof including student ID cards and offers of placement letters.' |
| University sends your data directly | Yes |
| Band D charge, 2026/27 | £2,613 |
university_data_sharing is marked true on the basis that the page requires only a student ID number from University of Reading students while everyone else must upload a certificate — i.e. the council verifies UoR enrolment against university records; the page does not use the words 'data sharing'. The reduction only covers the period of the course, so if the course ends before the tenancy ends the student becomes liable. A non-British spouse/dependant whose visa prevents paid work or claiming benefits is also disregarded. Band D £2,612.77 = Reading BC £2,223.18 + police £298.28 + fire £91.31, verified at https://www.reading.gov.uk/council-tax/council-tax-bands/
Part-time students do not qualify (the course must be 21+ hours a week for 24+ weeks, or 12+ hours for under-20s); one non-student resident pays the Council Tax but can claim a 25% disregard discount.
The councils nearest Reading Borough 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle upon Tyne | Newcastle City Council | £2,541 |
| Bangor | Cyngor Gwynedd | £2,555 |
| Brighton | Brighton & Hove City Council | £2,579 |
| Salford | Salford City Council | £2,594 |
| London (Kingston) | Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames | £2,608 |
| Reading | Reading Borough Council | £2,613 |
| Liverpool | Liverpool City Council | £2,674 |
| Oxford | Oxford City Council | £2,676 |
| Bristol | Bristol City Council | £2,714 |
| Nottingham | Nottingham City Council | £2,755 |
| Aberdeen | Aberdeen City Council | — |
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 Reading MyAccount using the 'Apply for a full-time student discount' form.
University of Reading students supply only their Student ID number; students at every other institution must upload a Council Tax student exemption certificate from the registrar. 'We are unable to accept any other forms of proof including student ID cards and offers of placement letters.'
Part-time students do not qualify (the course must be 21+ hours a week for 24+ weeks, or 12+ hours for under-20s); one non-student resident pays the Council Tax but can claim a 25% disregard discount.
Checked 18 August 2026 against reading.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.