Discounts

The full council tax bill assumes that there are two adults living in your property.

  • Council tax is composed of a 50% property element and 50% personal element (25% for each of 2 adults).
  • If there are more than 2 adults in a property the charge does not change.
  • If there is only one adult resident the charge can be reduced by 25% on application. [Download the Council Tax - Single Person Discount application form].
  • If all of the adult residents in a property are disregarded the bill can be reduced by 50%.
  • An adult is someone aged 18 years or over.

Reasons for disregarding an adult for council tax purposes:

  • Full time students, student nurses, apprentices and Youth Training trainees. [Download the Council Tax - Student Discount application form].
  • 18 and 19 year olds who are at or who have just left school and for whom Child Benefit is still payable
  • Members of visiting forces and certain international institutions.
  • People caring for someone with a disability who is not a spouse, partner or child under 18
  • People who are being looked after in nursing and residential care homes
  • Patients permanently resident in hospital
  • People who are severely mentally impaired
  • Careworkers working for low pay, usually for charities
  • People staying in certain hostels or night shelters
  • Members of religious communities (monks or nuns)
  • People in prison (except those in prison for non - payment of council tax or a fine)
  • People who are diplomats.

Empty and Unfurnished Properties:.

  • A property which is both empty and unfurnished for 6 months is entitled to full exemption.
  • If ownership of the property changes before the property is reoccupied but after the 6 month period has ended there is no further 6 month period due.
  • The void period attaches to the property and not to the ownership of the property.
  • Until the 31st March 2011 the charge after the initial 6 month period is 50% of the full charge while the property remains both unoccupied and unfurnished.
  • From the 1st of April 2011 the charge due after the initial 6 month exemption will be at the full rate.

You can get a 10% discount if your property is furnished but is not anyone's sole or main residence.

You may be required to provide evidence to support you claim for a discount and you must inform us if you have a change in your circumstances which will affect the discount.

Job related Discount:

You can get a 50% discount if you have to live in a different property because it is a condition of your job. This applies where your main residence has changed and we will take various factors into account in order to determine main residence in each individual case.

  • If you think you may be entitled to a discount, you should contact the council tax service.
  • If your bill indicates that a discount has been allowed, you must tell us of any change in your circumstances which could affect your entitlement, e.g. a second resident becomes 18.
  • If you fail to inform us you may be required to pay a penalty.

 

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