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Home Page > Advice and benefits > Council tax > Council Tax Discounts
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Council Tax Discounts

 

 

SINGLE PERSON DISCOUNT

 

The full Council Tax bill assumes that there are two adults living in a dwelling.  If only one adult lives in a dwelling (as their main home), the Council Tax bill will be reduced by 25%.

 

 

Am I entitled?

 

My partner is a member of the forces/works away and only comes home occasionally.

 

    No - This property will still be deemed as their sole/main residence because there is an intention to return to the property.

 

My partner has passed away, am I entitled to a discount on my council tax?”.

 

    Yes - If you now live on your own you will be entitled to a Single Person Discount

 

A friend is coming to stay for a month's holiday.

 

    Yes - They will not be considered as having changed their main residence and are therefore not counted.

 

 

 

How do I claim

 

 

    Single Person Discount can be awarded on completing a Single Person Discount application form and returning it to us.

 

How long will the discount last?

 

    The discount will continue for as long as you occupy the property as the single adult.

 

    The following types of changes may affect your discount and you should let us know if:

  • Another adult comes to stay with you and this is their main home
  •  A child reaches the age of 18
  •  You leave the property on a permanent basis* 

    We need this information to enable us to fulfil our duty to keep the Authority’s records up to date.

 

PLEASE NOTE Under Regulation 16, The Council Tax (Administration & Enforcement) Regulations 1992 - you must tell the District Council if you are no longer entitled to claim this discount.  You must do this, in writing, within 21 days if your circumstances change. If you knowingly claim a discount, to which you are not entitled, this may lead to a criminal prosecution being taken against you.

 

 

SECOND HOME DISCOUNT  

 

If a property is nobody's main home we may be able to give a discount of 10%. This usually applies to properties that are second home.

 

 

DISREGARDED PEOPLE

 

Certain people are not counted when looking at the number of adults resident in a dwelling for Council Tax purposes.   The list of people who are disregarded comprises:

  • Full time students,
  • Student nurses,
  • Apprentices and Youth Training trainees
  • Patients resident in hospital
  • People who are being looked after in care homes
  • People who are severely mentally impaired
  • 18 and 19 year olds who are at or have just left school
  • Careworkers working for low pay, usually for charities
  • People caring for someone with a disability who is not a spouse, partner or child under 18
  • Members of visiting forces and certain international institutions
  • Members of religious communities (monks and nuns)
  • People in prison (except those in prison for non-payment of Council Tax or a fine)
  • Diplomats and their spouses

The above classes are stated in broad terms. Within each of the classes, a number of conditions may need to be met before the exemption is satisfied.

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