Council tax discounts

Sometimes you may be able to get a discount off your council tax bill. If you want to claim a discount please fill in the form below. This form can be completed online and submitted electronically.

Council Tax Discount Application Form

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How do discounts work?
You only pay full council tax if there are two or more adults living in your property as their main home. People aged 18 and over are counted as adults, but some adults are not counted (see the section below on disregarded people). You will get a discount if the number of adults who are counted is less than two.

If I live on my own will I get a discount?
If you are the only adult living in the property you will get 25% off your Council Tax bill. This also applies If you are the only counted adult in the property.

What if the property is empty?
If no-one lives in the property you may not have to pay any Council Tax for a while (see Council tax exemptions). As long as the property is unfurnished you will get 50% off the full charge. You will get 10% off a furnished property not being used.

If I have two homes do I have to pay twice?
You will have to pay the full council tax charge for your main home, but you will get 10% off the bill for your second home. If you have to live in a second home as a condition of your employment you may get a 50% reduction instead of 10%. We will ask you for information to help us decide which is your main home.

Disregarded people
We do not count the following people for Council Tax purposes. If, after disregarding the following people there is only one person left for us to count we will give you 25% off your bill. If there is no-one left for us to count we will give you 50% off your bill.

1. People in prison.
   We do not count people who are on remand or in prison.
   
2. People living as patients in a home or hospital.
   We will not count anyone who is living in a home to receive care, or is in hospital long term.
   
3. People who are mentally impaired.
   This includes people with Alzheimer's disease.
   
4. Members of religious communities.
   We do not count people like monks and nuns who live in a religious community.
   
5. 18 and 19 year olds still at school.
   We do not count young people under 20 years old who are in full time education up to and including A level standard. We will also not count you if someone is entitled to Child Benefit for you.
   
6. School leavers.
   We do not count 18- and 19-year-olds who left school or college after 30 April until 1 November of the same year.
   
7. Students, student nurses and youth training trainees.
   There are certain rules that have to be met. Please ask us for more information
   
8. Apprentices.
   We do not count apprentices working for a qualification and who earn less than £195 per week (before tax).
   
9. Carers.
   We do not count people who live with and care for a person with a severe disability unless that person is the husband, wife, partner or child (under 18) of the carer.
   
10. Members of designated international headquarters, visiting forces and defence organisations and diplomats.
    
11. Non-British relatives of students.

We do not count spouses and dependants of students who cannot work or claim benefits because of immigration rules.

Reduction for people with disabilities

If a disabled person living in the property needs a room, an extra bathroom or kitchen, or uses a wheelchair indoors, the person who pays the council tax can have a reduction. Instead of charging at the band given, the charge can be reduced to the one below. So if you live in a band D property, we will only charge for a band C. If you live in a band A property we will reduce the charge by a sixth.

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