Council Tax discounts
How do I apply?
Single person discount
Council Tax is based on two adults being resident in the
property. If only one person is resident they are entitled to a 25%
discount called a Single Person Discount.
Disabled band reduction
Your bill may be reduced if a permanently disabled person
(whether an adult or child) lives in the dwelling.
Empty properties and second homes
From 1 April 2013 if you own a second furnished property, in
addition to your main home, you will be required to pay 100%
Council Tax. A 10% reduction applied in these circumstances
until 31 March 2013 only.
Properties which are unfurnished and unoccupied will receive
no discount following any entitlement to the exemptions listed in
empty
and exempt properties.
A dwelling that is furnished and unoccupied as a result of job
related employment may be subject to a 50%
discount.
Certain people will not be counted when looking at the number
of adults resident in a property if they meet certain conditions.
These people are known as 'disregarded for discount
purposes.'
Disregarded persons
The person responsible for paying the bill can make a claim for
a person/s who has their sole or main residence in their property
being disregarded. If all but one of the adults who has their sole
or main residence in the property fulfills the criteria in any one
of the categories listed below, the discount will be
applicable.
- The types of people who may be disregarded for discount
purposes are as follows:
- Full time students;
- Persons still in receipt of Child Benefit;
- Prisoners;
- Youth Training Trainees;
- Persons who are severally mentally impaired;
- Carers;
- School College leavers;
- Patients in Nursing and Care Homes;
- Student Nurses;
- Hospital patients;
- Persons residing in hostels;
- Apprentices;
- Religious Communities;
- Spouses of certain students;
- Diplomats;
- Members of International Headquarters and Defence
Organisations.
- Please note that these disregards do not affect the level of
the charge if the property concerned is not your sole or main
residence.
Level of discount
If all but one of the resident adults are disregarded the
discount will be 25%.
If all the resident adults are disregarded then the discount
will be 50%.
The discount continues for as long as the qualifying criteria
are met.
We must be informed within 21 days of any change which may
affect the discount - if not, a penalty could be incurred. If you
haven't previously told us about a change it will be backdated and
you will have to make payment of any arrears promptly.