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The short answer
Hosting a relative who is studying in the UK mainly adds food, energy and travel costs; council tax often does not rise, because full-time students are disregarded, so a single adult host keeps the 25% single person discount. If the relative pays you rent, the Rent a Room Scheme lets you earn up to £7,500 a year tax-free from letting furnished space in your main home.
What the student brings with them
A relative on a Student visa has already paid the Home Office, and those costs shape what they can contribute. GOV.UK lists the Student visa fee at £558 and says applicants must show enough money to pay for the course and support themselves. They also pay the immigration health surcharge, which GOV.UK sets at £776 a year for students, giving them NHS access. Students cannot claim public funds, and the hours they can work depend on their course and term dates.
In practice, many students from Nigeria arrive with a tight budget once fees are paid. Agree at the start what they will contribute, so the arrangement does not strain the relationship.
Council tax: usually no change
A full council tax bill assumes two or more adults. GOV.UK's Council Tax page says you get 25% off if you live alone or if everyone else in the home is disregarded, and full-time students are on the disregarded list. So:
- If you live alone and a full-time student relative moves in, you can usually keep the 25% single person discount.
- If everyone in the home is a full-time student, the home may be exempt.
- If the relative is not a full-time student, for example on a short course or after their course ends, they count as an adult and you lose the discount.
You must tell your council and apply; discounts are not automatic. Your council may ask for proof that the relative is a full-time student; universities can provide a letter or certificate confirming enrolment. Our guide to the single person discount explains the process.
Rent, and the lodger question
If your relative pays you something towards their keep, is that rent? If they pay for a furnished room in your main home, it is letting income, and GOV.UK's Rent a Room Scheme lets you earn up to £7,500 a year tax-free (£3,750 if the income is shared with someone else). Many families keep it simpler: the relative buys their own food or pays a set amount towards bills. Whatever you agree, write it down.
A lodger who is a full-time student does not affect your single person discount; one who is not a student does. The student-or-not question, not the family relationship, is what the council looks at.
The extra household costs
Example only, for one extra adult in a home outside London. Replace the figures with your own.
| Item | Example per month | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Food | £220 | Groceries for one extra adult |
| Energy | £40 | More hot water, cooking and heating |
| Broadband and phone | £0 to £10 | Usually shared |
| Toiletries and cleaning | £20 | |
| Council tax change | £0 | If the relative is a full-time student |
| Total | £280 to £290 |
Over a nine-month academic year that example comes to £2,520 to £2,610 (£280 × 9 to £290 × 9). For context on energy, Ofgem's price cap for October to December 2026 puts a typical dual-fuel household on direct debit at £1,723 a year, with electricity at 26.32p per kWh and gas at 7.97p per kWh.
What to agree before they arrive
- What they will contribute, if anything, and when.
- Who buys food, and whether they cook for themselves.
- House rules on guests, heating and quiet hours during exams.
- How long the arrangement lasts, including after the course ends.
- Who pays for what if their family in Nigeria sends money for their upkeep.
Parents in Nigeria often want to contribute. Our guide to sending money to a Nigerian student covers the other direction too.
The first weeks
A new student from Nigeria has a lot to set up, and hosts often end up helping. Expect to spend time, and sometimes money, on:
- Registering with a GP, which the NHS says is free and does not need proof of address or immigration status.
- Opening a UK bank account; ask the bank which proof of address it accepts from a student living with family.
- A travel pass or railcard for the commute to campus.
- Winter clothing, if they arrive in September or January without it.
- A UK SIM and phone plan.
Lending money for these is common. If you do, agree how and when it will be repaid, or say clearly that it is a gift, so there is no misunderstanding later.
When the course ends
Decide in advance what happens at the end of the course. If the relative stays on, for example while looking for work, they stop being a full-time student for council tax purposes, and a single person discount you have been receiving may end. Tell the council when their status changes, and revisit what they contribute to the household.
Where Pryme fits
If the student's family sends naira towards their keep, a Pryme account can receive it and hold it alongside pounds, with Swap showing the rate and fee before any conversion. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's services are provided through regulated partners.
Questions people ask
Does a student living with me affect my council tax?
Usually not. Full-time students are disregarded, so if you otherwise live alone you can keep the 25% single person discount. Apply to your council with the student's exemption certificate.
Is money from a relative staying with me taxable?
If they pay for a furnished room in your main home, it is letting income, but the Rent a Room Scheme lets you earn up to £7,500 a year tax-free.
Can a student on a visa pay me rent?
Yes. Paying for accommodation is normal. Agree the amount in writing and keep a record of payments.
How much does it cost to host a student relative in the UK?
Mainly food, energy and household costs; in our example about £280 to £290 a month for one extra adult outside London.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Council Tax, who has to pay · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Rent a room in your home · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Student visa · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application · accessed Oct 2026
- Ofgem: Energy price cap will rise 4% in October 2026 · accessed Oct 2026
- NHS: How to register with a GP surgery · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.