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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Household Energy Payment announced in the Autumn Budget 2026, whether full-time students in band A to D properties who are exempt from council tax under Class N will be eligible for that payment; whether tenants of houses in multiple occupation who pay their own energy bills, but whose landlord is the liable person for council tax, will be eligible; and what steps she plans to take to ensure local authorities proactively contact eligible households that do not pay council tax by direct debit.

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.