Council Tax Discounts
When we work out Council Tax bills, we assume that there are at
least two adults living in the property. An adult is anyone who is
18 years old or over.
If there are fewer than two adults then you may qualify for
a discount. The discounts are:
- Single person discount
- Unoccupied property discount
- Disregard discount
It is important to note that your Council Tax bill does not
increase if there are more than two adults.
How do I apply for a discount?
If you think you qualify for any of the following discounts
please read and fill in an application form.
Do I qualify for single person discount?
- If you live alone; or
- If you are a single parent and all children are under 18 years
old.
- If no other adults live in your home; and
- it is your main home,
then you qualify for single person discount.
How much single person discount will I get?
If you qualify, you will get 25% discount off your Council Tax
bill.
If you already get Council Tax benefit, then your 25% discount will
be taken off the full amount of your Council Tax, and your benefit
entitlement will be worked out again, based on the reduced
amount.
Do I qualify for unoccupied property discount?
- If no adults live in the dwelling as their only or main home
and it is substantially unfurnished, or
- if it is used as a second or holiday home
then you will qualify for a discount.
Please note that you will get a six-month Council Tax exemption
if your property is unfurnished, as long as there has been someone
in occupation after any previous exemption.
How much discount will I get if my property has no adults in
it?
If you qualify you will get six months, followed by the full
charge for an unfurnished property. For a furnished property
you will get 10% discount.
Do I qualify for discount disregard?
Count the number of adults in the property who normally live
there. Do not include any people on the list below. If
the final number is one or none then you may qualify.
The following people are disregarded, and so, do not have to pay
Council Tax:
- full-time students, student nurses, apprentices and youth
training trainees;
- patients who are permanently resident in hospital;
- people who are permanently resident in a care home, nursing
home, hospice, hostel, mental nursing home;
- people who are severely mentally impaired;
- people staying in certain hostels and night shelters;
- monks and nuns;
- 18 and 19 year olds who are at, or who have just left
school;
- a person who is caring for a disabled adult who is not their
spouse or partner;
- convicted or remand prisoners except those in prison for not
paying fines or Council Tax.
How much discount disregard will I get?
If you qualify, the level of discount depends on whether your
'final count' is one or none.
If I receive a discount disregard and I am the disregarded
person, am I still liable for Council Tax?
If you are shown as the liable person, even though you may be
disregarded, you will still be responsible for paying the bill.
There is one special case where the above does not apply. This
is where the liable person (and all the other adults living in the
dwelling) is disregarded because they are severely mentally
impaired. In this case the dwelling may become exempt from Council
Tax.
If I qualify for a discount, what happens if my circumstances
change?
If you have a change in circumstances, you
must tell us straight away as it may affect your
discount.
Also, each year we will send you a certificate to fill in to
confirm that your circumstances have not changed.
What can I do if you turn down my application?
If you do not agree with our decision you have the right to
appeal.
You can get advice by contacting the Revenues
office