Question:
I share a house with my housemate and his family, and we agreed to split all bills equally. My housemate later received council tax benefits, reducing the total bill. Should I pay half of the discounted bill or half of the original full bill?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The council tax bill is calculated per household. Thus, any discounts for any occupants of the household will apply to the entire household.
Since it was already mutually agreed between both parties that the total bill will be shared equally, a discount for any one party will not affect the agreement. The total bill (after discount) should be shared equally between the parties.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best.
Mufti Mubasshir Talha
13 Rabi Al-Akhir 1447 / 4 October 2025
Approved by: Mufti Tahir Wadee
[References]
https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/who-has-to-pay
وأوفوا بالعهد
[Surah Al-Isra’, ‘Ayah 34]
يا أيها الذين آمنوا أوفوا بالعقود
[Surah Al-Ma’idah, ‘Ayah 1]
وحكمها في شركة الملك صيرورة المجتمع من النصيبين مشتركا بينهما
[al-Bahr al-Ra’iq, ‘Ayah 34]
