§ Mr. ReedTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to permit local authorities to charge landlords council tax for houses in multiple occupation occupied solely by students; and if he will make a statement. [162017]
§ Mr. RaynsfordNo. Dwellings occupied entirely by students are exempt from council tax because unlike other groups of people on low incomes, students are not normally entitled to income related benefits such as housing and council tax benefit. If the Government were to make owners of student accommodation liable for council tax, it would not necessarily follow that they would ultimately bear the costs of the tax. This is because landlords could simply pass on the extra costs to the students through their rent.