Rates for students in Northern Ireland

From 1 April 2007 100% rate relief may be awarded where a property is occupied solely by full-time students and/or people in full time training, aged under 18 or a young person leaving care.

This applies whether you own or rent the property.

It also applies if you live on your own and fall into one of the groups mentioned above.

Landlords will have to produce clear evidence that the benefit has been passed on to tenants in order to qualify for the relief ie the rent you pay should not include a payment to cover the rates if the landlord is receiving full rate relief on the property.

If you need to quote the legislation to your landlord the change is in The Rate Relief(Education,Training and Leaving Care) Regulations(NI) 2007(No. 148).

The Land and Property Services website gives full information about rates. It also tells you how to claim housing benefit for a rate rebate if you are eligible to claim and have a rate liability.

The safest way to be completely sure that you do not incur any liability by mistake for the rates is to share accommodation only with full-time students.

Your student life

Your medical school is No medical school selected You are at Year 1 of a 5 year course When not in medical school you live in England