You can get 25% off your bill if your property is only occupied by one adult aged 18 or over. For details visit our council tax - single persons discount webpage.
A 25% discount may also apply if all but one of the people who live in a property do not have to pay council tax. Below is a list of adults who will be discounted from the number of adults living at a property.
Exemptions
Council tax is normally payable on every domestic property, but there are a number of dwellings, which are exempt. Some dwellings will be exempt for a limited period (usually 6 months) whilst others, because of their special circumstances will remain exempt until those circumstances change. Exempt properties will usually be unoccupied but certain categories of occupied properties may still attract an exemption.
Please refer to the list of property exemptions to determine of you qualify to be exempt from paying council tax on a property.
Band reductions for the disabled
Your bill may be reduced if your home has certain features which are essential or of major importance to the wellbeing of a person with a disability, (whether an adult or child), who is resident in the dwelling. These features are:
- A room (other than a bathroom, kitchen or toilet) used mainly by the person with the disability. For example, you might get a reduction if you have an extension or extra room used for storing dialysis equipment or wheelchairs, or a bedroom on the ground floor in a dwelling with 2 or more floors.
- An additional bathroom or kitchen for the use of the person with the disability.
- Extra space inside the dwelling to allow for the use of a wheelchair.
When considering whether a reduction should apply the council has to decide whether the person with the disability would find it impossible or extremely difficult to live in the dwelling, or whether their health would suffer, or the disability become severe, if the extra feature were not available in the dwelling. To qualify for a reduction, the extra room need not be specially built, but can be an existing room used specifically for the person with the disability.
If your home is eligible, your bill is reduced to that of a property in the valuation band immediately below the band shown on the valuation list. For example, if your home is in band D, your bill will be reduced to that of a band C dwelling. This does not affect the value of your home or its banding on the valuation list.
If you think you qualify for a disabled person's reduction contact us in writing or by telephone and you will be sent an application form. Alternatively, you can apply for a disabled person band reduction by downloading and completing the application form below:
Apply for a disabled person band reduction (PDF 57kb)
You may also be asked for other information to support your claim. For example, you may need to provide a letter from your doctor, an occupational therapist or social worker, saying that the person with the disability needs the extra space or room because of it.
If you are in receipt of a discount but your circumstances have changed such that you are no longer entitled to that discount you MUST inform the council as soon as possible or you may face a penalty.