Council tax discounts

Council tax discounts

Sole occupier discount   
You may be entitled to a 25% discount off your council tax bill if you are the only person (aged 18 or over) living in a property. 

How can you claim the discount? 
You can apply for a sole occupier discount online or phone /write to us and give the date you became the only resident. You may need to send us proof of the new address of anyone who used to live with you.  

What happens then? 
If we are satisfied that you qualify for a discount, we will send you a revised bill. 

If you set up an account and register for council tax you will be able to apply online for the discount, view the discount details and see how it changes your council tax instalments.

Create an account

From time to time we send review forms to check the discount still applies. 

What happens if someone else over 18 moves into the property? 
Please contact us straight away as this may affect the discount. 

What happens if you falsely claim the discount? 
This is a criminal offence and you may be liable to pay a penalty. 

Other discounts 
We work out council tax by assuming that at least two adults are living in the property. 50% of the council tax is for the property and 50% is for the people who live there. We do not count some people (disregarded categories) when we work out how many adults live in the property. This may allow you to receive a discount even if you do not live alone. 

These disregarded categories are: 

• full time students, student nurses, apprentices and youth training trainees - students will need to obtain a council tax certificate from their place of study and complete an application form;
• 18- and 19-year olds who are at, or who have just left, school or college;
• patients in hospital;
• people being looked after in care homes;
• people staying in certain hostels or night shelters;
• care workers working for low pay, usually for charities;
• people who care for someone with a disability who is not their spouse, partner or a child under 18;
• members of visiting forces and certain international institutions;
• foreign diplomats;
• members of religious communities (monks and nuns);
• people in detention; and
• the severely mentally impaired.

If all members of the household fit these categories, they may be able to get a 50% discount. 

Other 25% discounts 
If there is only one person over 18 living in the property who gets counted, the person who pays the bill may be entitled to a discount of 25% (see above). 

50% discount  A 50% discount may apply if the property is not exempt  and all adults (over 18) are disregarded.

10% discount  A 10% discount may apply if a furnished property is no one's sole or main residence or a second home.

Ways to contact us about council tax