Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to support students and others who are council tax exempt with energy bills.

The Household Energy Payment will be available to those living in households in council tax bands A-D as their sole or main residence. The government will set out detailed guidance for local authorities in due course, including specifying that households exempt from council tax because they are students or in receipt of Local Council Tax Support are eligible.

To be eligible the occupant must also be liable for council tax. Where the owner of a property is liable rather than the occupant e.g. with an HMO, the household would not be eligible for this payment.