Council Tax Reductions
Discounts
The full council tax bill for a property assumes that it the main home of two adults. If it is the main home of only one adult, the bill is reduced by 25%. If the property is no one’s main home and:
However, the following people (this may include the person liable for payment) are ignored (“disregarded”) when counting the number of adults living in the property:
full-time students, student nurses, foreign language assistants or apprentices
patients resident in a hospital
people who are resident in a care home
people who are severely mentally impaired
people staying in certain hostels or night shelters
18 and 19 year-olds who are at or have just left school/college
care workers working for low pay, usually for charities
people caring for someone with a disability who is not a spouse, partner, or child under 18
diplomats and members of visiting forces and certain international organisations
members of religious communities
people in prison (except those in prison for non-payment of council tax or a fine)
Discounts have been granted based on existing council tax records and will be shown on the front of your bill. If you have not been allowed a discount but think you are entitled to one, you should let us know. If you have been allowed a discount to which you are not entitled, YOU MUST TELL US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE or a penalty of £70 may be imposed.
Exemptions
Your property will be exempt from Council Tax if it is:
- Occupied by only students, under 18's, or the severely mentally impaired
- A "granny annexe" occupied by elderly/disabled relatives
or unoccupied and:
- Unfurnished (exempt for up to 6 months)
- Owned by a charity (exempt for up to 6 months)
- Require or are undergoing major repair to make habitable, or undergoing structural alteration (exempt for up to 12 months, or 6 months after work substantially completed, whichever is the shorter)
- Left empty by someone who has gone into prison, or who has moved to receive personal care in a hospital or home or elsewhere
- Left empty by someone who has moved in order to provide personal care to another person
- Left empty by someone who has died (exempt for up to 6 months after probate/letters of administration granted)
- Have been repossessed
- The responsibility of a bankrupt's trustee
- Occupation is forbidden by law
- Waiting to be occupied by a minister of religion
- Left empty by a student owner
- Consist of an empty caravan pitch or boat mooring
- Cannot be let separately because of planning controls
Exemptions that have been granted based on existing Council Tax records will be shown on the front of your bill. If you have not been awarded an exemption and think your are entitled to let us know.
If you have been awarded an exemption that that you are not entitled to YOU MUST LET US KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE or face a penalty of £70.
People With Disabilities
If you (or someone living with you) has special needs as a result of disability and needs a room such as an extra bathroom or kitchen, or use a wheelchair indoors, you may be entitled to a reduction.
In most cases where a reduction is granted, your bill will be based on the band immediately below that shown for your property in the valuation list. Properties in Band A receive a reduction of 1/6th of the council tax for that band.
Please see below for further information.
Please
contact us for an application form or use our online
Council Tax Discounts and Exemptions form if you are not already receiving this reduction and think you may qualify.
If you wish to print our Disabled Relief Claim Form, please see below for a full claim form.
Benefits
Council tax benefit ensures that people in receipt of income support will normally pay no council tax, and that other people on low incomes will have their bills reduced. Details are available from
Benefits at the Council House, or telephone 0300 555 8100.
