Council tax discounts and exemptions

We are able to reduce your council tax bill in some circumstances.

For second and empty home see our reductions for empty properties page

If you're on a low income see our council tax support page.

Single Person Discount and other exemptions

A full council tax bill assumes that there are at least two adults using the property as their sole or main residence. If only one adult lives in the property we reduce your bill by 25 per cent, known as a Single Person Discount.

When calculating your bill we don't count certain people. These include:

• Full time students
• Apprentices
• Student nurses
• School or college leavers under 20 but over 18 still receiving child benefit
• People who care for an elderly or disabled person who lives with them
• People who are severely mentally impaired, such as those suffering with Dementia or Alzheimers
• Members of religious communities
• People in detention
• Foreign diplomats
• Members of visiting forces and certain international institutions
• Care workers working for low pay, usually charities
• People staying in certain hostels or night shelters
• People who now permanently live in hospital

Apply for a reduction in your council tax

Complete and return the relevant application form from the list below:

Council Tax reductions in special circumstances (Section 13A)

We can sometimes give a short-term Council Tax reduction to people who find themselves unexpectedly in difficult circumstances. This type of reduction can apply to both occupied and unoccupied properties. It is called a Section 13A reduction because it comes under Section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act.

We can only give Section 13A reductions in exceptional situations. The money to cover the reductions comes out of the council’s own funds, so the decision to grant a reduction and how much is at our discretion.

Exceptional situations might include where the Council Tax payer faces sudden financial problems they could not have expected.

The full policy, including the eligibility criteria, is available to download on this webpage.

If you wish to apply for this reduction, please complete the application form and submit it to the council.

Council Tax Reduction Discretionary Payments Policy - pdf - 451 Kb

S13a Application Form - pdf - 315 Kb

Student discount

You do not need to pay council tax if you are a student and you can get a discount if someone in your household is a student.

Student Discount Form - docx - 61 Kb

Council tax reductions for disabled people and carers

If your property is the main residence of someone who is disabled you may be able to get a reduction to your council tax. If you are entitled, your band will be reduced to the one below that set by the Valuation Office Agency. So if your property is in Band D you will be charged council tax for a Band C property. If you live in a Band A property you get a discount of one sixth.

To get the reduction the property must be both the sole or main residence of someone who is substantially and permanently disabled by:

• illness
• injury
• congenital deformity or otherwise

and have one of the following:

• a room which is mainly used to meet the needs of the disabled person (not a kitchen, lavatory or bathroom) for example a room used for therapy
• an additional bathroom or kitchen which are used to meet the needs of the disabled person
• enough floor space to allow for the use of a wheelchair inside the home and the disabled person uses a wheelchair in the home.

You can use these forms to apply for these council tax reductions:

Disabled Band Reduction Application Form - docx - 63 Kb

Carer Discount Disregard Application Form - docx - 65 Kb

A discount is also available for people who are seriously mentally impaired:

Severely mentally impaired discount or exemption - docx - 76 Kb

Exemption for people now living in hospital or a care home

If a person's home is left empty as a result of them permanently living in a hospital or care home, and they remain the liable person for council tax purposes, they may be entitled to an exemption from council tax. If they return home between treatments it does not qualify as permanent.

Apprentice discount

An apprentice discount is also available:

Apprentice Discount Application Form - docx - 59 Kb

Report a change in circumstances

If you are claiming a discount and your circumstances change you must inform us of the changes immediately. If you don't let us know it may mean that your charge will be backdated to the date of the change and an instalment facility not given.

Related Pages

• Reductions for empty properties
• Council tax support