Full council tax is normally payable where two or more adults live in a property. Your property or household circumstances may, however, mean that you can receive a discount or full exemption.
If you have a low household income or are in receipt of welfare benefits, you may be eligible to receive council tax reduction.
Annexes occupied by dependent relatives
An annex that is part of another dwelling and is occupied by a dependent relative who is either aged 65 or over; or severely mentally impaired; or substantially and permanently disabled is exempt from council tax. If an annexe is occupied by a non-dependent relative or furnished and being used as part of the main property, a 50% discount applies.
Annexe discount or exemption form
Apprentices
Apprentices are not counted when determining how many people live at a property if they earn less than £195.00 each week. If all the people living at a property are apprentices or qualify for an alternative disregard, a 50% discount applies. If all but one of the people living at the property are disregarded, a 25% discount applies.
Armed forces accommodation
Property owned by the Ministry of Defence for armed forces accommodation. Please contact us for further information.
Carers
Carers are not counted when determining how many people live at a property. The carer must be living in the same property as the person they are caring for and cannot be their spouse, partner or the parent of the person if they are under 18. If the carer is unpaid, they must provide care for at least 35 hours each week, or if they are a paid carer, they must earn less than £44.00 per week and provide care for a minimum of 24 hours per week. The person receiving care must also receive a qualifying benefit.
Care leavers reduction
A discretionary reduction (care leavers' reduction) will be awarded to any care leaver formerly in Local Authority care aged 18 to 25, who lives in the borough, and is liable to pay council tax.
The reduction will reduce the amount of council tax a care leaver will have to pay, after the deduction of any council tax reduction and any other national reliefs such as the single person discount, to nil.
If you think you are eligible for this reduction, please complete the enquiry form below, selecting "other enquiry or advice" from the drop down list, and including relevant evidence of your care leaver status.
Care leavers reduction enquiry form
Deceased notification
Properties left empty after someone has died are usually exempt from council tax until either six months after probate has been granted or someone else becomes responsible for the property.
Property left empty by deceased persons form
Diplomats, visiting forces and members of an international HQ or defence organisation
Diplomats, members of visiting forces (for example, Menwith Hill) and members of international HQ or defence organisations are not counted. If anyone responsible for council tax is a member or a visiting force or a diplomat, a full exemption applies.
Diplomat and visiting forces discount or exemption form
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.
Halls of residence
Property provided to accommodate mainly students.
Property owned or managed by an educational establishment or charitable body.
Halls of residence exemption application form
Nursing/care homes
If a property is being used as a nursing/care home, anyone living at the property and receiving care will not be counted. In addition, any carers who live there will also not be counted provided that they meet the above criteria.
Discount for nursing homes form
People who are detained or in prison
People that 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 will apply.
Detention and prisoner discount or exemption form
Properties occupied by people under 18
A property occupied only by a person or persons aged under 18.
Under 18s exemption application form
Religious communities
If a religious community occupies a property and its members are reliant on the community for their material needs, the members will not be counted if they have no income or capital. The principal occupation of the community must be prayer, relief of suffering, contemplation, education or any combination of these.
Religious community discount form
School leavers and child benefit
If someone has turned 18 but child benefit is still being paid, they will not be counted. In addition, anyone who is under 20 and leaves school or college after the end of April will not be counted until the end of October.
Child benefit and school leaver discount form
Severely mentally impaired
If someone is considered to be severely mentally impaired by their doctor or another registered medical practitioner, and they are entitled to a qualifying benefit, they will not be counted for council tax. If everyone at a property is considered severely mentally impaired, a full exemption applies.
Severely mentally impaired discount or exemption form
Sole resident discount
If you are the only adult living at your property, you will usually qualify for a 25% sole resident discount. You can apply for this discount online using the form below. If your application is successful, you will receive an revised bill including the discount. If we are unable to award a discount, we will contact you to confirm the reason or any further information we require.
This discount does not apply to second homes, or if someone that is usually lives with you is temporarily living elsewhere (for example, working away from home, serving in the armed forces). If someone is living elsewhere because they are at college or university, their term time address is usually considered to be their main residence.
Students
Students are not counted when 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 20 years old 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 a property is student, a full exemption applies.
Properties occupied only by students, school or college leavers or foreign spouses of students who are not allowed to work or claim benefit are also not counted. Exemption also applies during vacations if the student(s) are the liable person(s) and the property is going to be used as their term-time accommodation.
Student discount or exemption form
Youth trainees
Youth trainees are not counted if they are under 25 and have a training plan under an approved scheme.
Ending a discount or exemption
If you are no longer entitled to a discount or exemption you are receiving, please let us know using our discount or exemption cancellation form.