What is council tax for renters?

Council tax is a local tax charged by your council to fund local services, and in most flatshares it's the tenants' responsibility, not the landlord's, unless your listing specifically says "bills included."

How it usually works in a house share: the amount is set per property (based on its council tax band), and tenants on a joint tenancy typically split it between them, or one person's name is used for billing and the others reimburse them.

Student exemption: full-time students are disregarded for council tax (you are not personally liable), but mixed households with working professionals can still get a discounted or full bill depending on how many non-students live there. Full detail: do students pay council tax.

What to check before moving in: whether council tax is included in your rent or not, and if not, roughly what the property's council tax band costs, since it can add a meaningful amount to your monthly outgoings.