Council Tax discounts

Single person discount

If you are the only adult living in your property, you will usually qualify for a 25% single person discount.

If your application is successful, you'll get a revised bill showing the discount.

We might contact you for further information. If we can't award the discount, we'll tell you why.

The single person discount does not apply:

  • to second homes
  • if someone who usually lives with you is temporarily living elsewhere, for example, working away from home, or serving in the armed forces
  • if someone is living elsewhere because they are at college or university

Discounts for annexes

If a dependent relative lives in an annexe, they are exempt from Council Tax (do not have to pay Council Tax). If a non-dependent relative lives in an annexe or it is furnished and used as part of the main house, there is a discount of 50%.

Discounts for apprentices

Apprentices who earn less than £195 a week aren't counted when working out how many people live at a property. If all the people living at a property are apprentices, or qualify for another discount, you can get a 50% discount. If all but one of the people living at the property qualify, you can get a 25% discount.

Discounts for carers

Carers aren't counted when working out how many people live at a property. The carer live in the same property as the person they are caring for, and cannot be their husband, wife or partner.

If the carer is unpaid, they must provide at least 35 hours of care each week. If they are paid, they must earn less that £44 a week, and provide care for at least 24 hours a week. The person who is receiving the care must also receive a qualifying benefit.

Discounts for nursing/care homes

If a property is being used as a nursing or care home, anyone living at the property and receiving care is not counted. In addition, any carers who live there, and who meet the criteria for carers, will not be counted.

Discounts for people who are detained or in prison

People who are temporarily absent from a property because they are detained or in prison are not counted. If the property is unoccupied because the resident(s) are being detained, a full exemption applies.

Discounts for religious communities

If a religious community occupies a property, and its members rely on the community for their material needs, then the members will not be counted, as long as they have no income or savings. The primary occupation of the community must be prayer, relief of suffering, contemplation, education or a combination of these.

Discounts for school leavers and child benefit

If someone has turned 18, but child benefit is still being paid, they will not be counted. In addition, if someone is under 20 and doesn't leave school or college until after the end of April, they will not be counted until the end of October.

Discounts for the severely mentally impaired

If a doctor or other medical practitioner considers someone to be severely mentally impaired, and they receive a qualifying discount, they will not be counted. if everyone at the property is considered to be severely mentally impaired, then a full exemption applies.

You will need your Council Tax account number and your bank details.

Discounts for students

Students aren't counted if they are on a full time course lasting at least one academic year and requiring 21 hours of study for at least 24 weeks. Students under the age of 20 are also not counted if they are on a course that lasts three months or more and requires 12 hours of daytime attendance each week. If everyone at the property is a student, a full exemption applies.

Foreign language assistants and foreign spouses of students who aren't allowed to work or claim benefit are also not counted.

You will need your Council Tax account number and your bank details.

Discounts for diplomats, visiting forces and members of an international HQ or defence organisation

Diplomats, visiting forces, and members of international HQ or defence organisations are not counted. If anyone responsible for Council Tax is a member of a visiting force or a diplomat, a full exemption applies.

Discounts for youth trainees

Youth trainees aren't counted if they are under 25 and have a training plan under an approved scheme.

Reduction for disabled facilities

You might qualify for a reduction in your council tax if your home has special facilities to meet the needs of a disabled person.