Lewisham Council Tax Student Exemption and Discount

Who Counts as a Full-Time Student?

To qualify for council tax student relief in Lewisham, you need to be on a course that runs for at least one academic year and involves at least 21 hours of study per week. This covers most undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, HNDs, and foundation courses at universities and colleges.

Student nurses, apprentices on specific government-funded schemes, and some foreign language assistants registered with the British Council also qualify. Part-time students studying fewer than 21 hours per week don't count for the exemption, though they may still qualify for Council Tax Reduction through the standard means-tested scheme.

Full Exemption vs. 25% Discount

The relief you get depends on who lives in the property:

Class N full exemption (100% off): every resident is a qualifying full-time student. A flat shared entirely by students pays zero council tax. This also applies if you're a student living alone.

25% single person discount: one non-student adult lives with one or more students. Students are "disregarded" for counting purposes, so if the only other resident is a student, the non-student counts as the sole adult and gets the 25% single person discount.

No student relief: two or more non-student adults live in the property alongside students. The students are still disregarded for headcount purposes, but since two non-student adults remain, there's no discount.

How to Apply in Lewisham

You'll need to provide Lewisham Council with a student certificate from your university or college. This isn't the same as an offer letter or enrolment confirmation — it's a specific document stating your name, course title, start and end dates, and that the course meets the 21-hour weekly threshold.

Most universities issue these through their student records office or online portal. Goldsmiths, for example, provides them through the student hub; other institutions near Lewisham (University of Greenwich, Ravensbourne) have similar systems.

Submit the certificate through the MyLewisham online portal. If you're applying for a Class N exemption for a household of students, every student in the property needs to provide their own certificate.

What Happens During Summer and After Graduation

The student exemption covers the full academic year, including holidays between terms — you don't lose it over summer if you're continuing your course in the autumn. The exemption ends on the last day of your course or the day you formally withdraw.

After graduation, your student status changes when your course ends. If you stay in the property and no longer qualify as a full-time student, your student exemption or disregard can end; who is liable for council tax then depends on the property and who lives there. This catches people off guard, especially summer graduates who don't start work until September.

If you're on a low income after graduating, apply for Council Tax Reduction straight away. The standard start date is the Monday after you apply, but if you become liable and apply within that same benefit week (Monday to Sunday), the claim starts from the date you became liable and occupied the property.

Students and Council Tax Reduction

Being a student doesn't automatically prevent you from claiming CTR. If you're a part-time student, or a student with dependants, or you're in a couple where one person isn't a student, the household may qualify for means-tested Council Tax Reduction under Lewisham's local scheme.

The distinction matters: a full student exemption leaves no liability to reduce through CTR. For a household with a non-student, the exemption may not apply; the non-student may qualify for the single person discount and CTR on the remaining bill. CTR is means-tested and subject to Lewisham's 75% maximum award and 25% minimum payment for working-age claimants.

For a step-by-step guide to working out which relief applies and how to claim it, the Lewisham Council Tax Reduction guide covers both routes and the evidence each one needs.

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