Student homes discussion

LANDLORDS of student accommodation in and around Leamington cannot be charged business tax for the properties they run, it has been found.

Officials at the district council had been asked to look into the possibility of the council being able to reclassify such homes as commercial premises for which the owners are liable to pay a business tax to the council. This would mean landlords would have to pay a commercial refuse collection charge on their properties.

It was thought that, given the large amount of student homes in Leamington and the wider district, it was unfair on non-students to have to pay extra council tax to compensate for the students, who are exempt from paying council tax.

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But it was announced at a recent meeting of the council’s executive committee that the move would not be legal.

Officers added that purpose-built student accommodation will still benefit the council through its New Homes Bonus allocation from the Government. The council receives money for each new homes built in the district and will continue to do so for the next five years.