A house in York lived in only by full-time students pays no council tax. At City of York Council's Band D charge of £2,270 a year, that exemption is worth about £189 a month — but only if you actually claim it.
| All-student household | Fully exempt |
| How to claim | Complete a move-in form to get an account number, then apply online — one application per property covering every occupant. |
| Evidence they want | Matriculation number, course title and dates for each occupant. A certificate is needed only if you study outside York or your name is missing from the York institutions' lists. |
| University sends your data directly | Yes |
| Band D charge, 2026/27 | £2,270 |
The date that matters: York's institutions supply enrolled-student lists in November, so no discount can be applied before then — and to stop recovery action you must tell the council before October, with every occupant having applied. Entering your tenancy start date as your move-in date can run the exemption from the start of the tenancy.
Mixed student and non-student households may still get a discount depending on circumstances.
The councils nearest City of York 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | The City of Edinburgh Council | £1,626 |
| Dundee | Dundee City Council | £1,730 |
| London (Lambeth) | Lambeth Council | £2,047 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | Stoke-on-Trent City Council | £2,183 |
| 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 |
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.
Complete a move-in form to get an account number, then apply online — one application per property covering every occupant.
Matriculation number, course title and dates for each occupant. A certificate is needed only if you study outside York or your name is missing from the York institutions' lists.
Mixed student and non-student households may still get a discount depending on circumstances.
Checked 18 August 2026 against york.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.