Discounts

Council Tax is based on two adults living in a property. If only one adult lives there, a 25% discount applies.

Some individuals fall into categories known as Disregarded Persons, meaning they are not counted when assessing Council Tax discounts.

• If all residents are Disregarded Persons, a 50% discount applies.
• If there is one non-disregarded adult living with Disregarded Persons, a 25% discount applies.
• If there are two or more non-disregarded adults, no discount is given.

For more details on who qualifies as a Disregarded Person, please refer to the relevant guidance.

Apprentices - If you are learning a trade, business and/or undertaking a programme of training, you can apply to have your bill reduced.

Patients being looked after in Care Homes - these are people living in residential care homes, nursing homes, mental nursing homes and hostels providing a high level of care.

Professional Care Workers - these are people working on low pay for, or introduced by, charities or local authorities.

Relative or Unpaid Carer - these are people caring for someone they are resident with for at least 35 hours a week, who is not a spouse, partner, or child under 18, and is in receipt of one of the below qualifying benefits.

• An attendance allowance under section 65 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992(2).
• The highest or middle rate of the care component of a disability living allowance under section 72(4)(a) or section 72(4)(b) of that Act.
• The standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component of personal independent payment under section 78(3) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012.
• An increase in a constant attendance allowance under the proviso to article 14 of the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme 1983(3), or under article 14(1)(b) of the Naval, Military and Air Forces etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 1983(4).
• An increase in the rate of his disablement pension under section 104 of that Act, with conditions of paragraph (a) and paragraph (b) of regulation 19 of the Social Security (General Benefit) Regulations 1982.
• An armed forces independence payment under the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011.

Child Benefit in Payment - these are 18 and 19-year-olds who are at, or have just left school and still in receipt of child benefit.

People in Detention - this could be a person who is detained in a prison, hospital or any other place under a court order but not those in prison for non-payment of Council Tax or a fine.

Foreign Language Assistant - if you are a Foreign Language Assistant registered with the British Council, you can apply for a Council Tax discount.

Patients Resident in Hospital - this is if your main or sole residence is in a hospital where you are receiving care or treatment.

Members of Religious Communities - this could include monks and nuns living in a monastery or a convent but also includes members of any religion living in a religious community.

Students and Student Nurses at Colleges

Members of Visiting Forces - this includes those that are members of International HQs and Defence Organisations.

Youth Training Trainee - a Council Tax discount can be applied for if a person is carrying out training according to an individual training plan under the Employment and Training Act 1973 and are under 25 years of age. People on Employment Training Schemes are not classed as being youth training trainees.

Severely Mentally Impaired refers to someone with a significant and lasting impairment of intelligence and social functioning, regardless of the cause. See below for more information

Severely Mentally Impaired

If a person living at a property is classed as "severely mentally impaired", and lives with other people, that person is disregarded from Council Tax.

This means we do not count them when calculating the number of people living in the house. If, by not counting that person, the number of people living in the property is just one, a 25% discount may be granted.

If a dwelling is only occupied by people who are classed as "severely mentally impaired" it is exempt from Council Tax

Apply for an exemption

To apply please use the 'Apply for a Council Tax Discount' button below.

You will also need to complete and include a Doctor’s Certificate when completing the form (available below).

People staying in certain Hostels or Night Shelters

Please contact us for details of how to apply.

Change of circumstances

If you have been given a discount on your bill, we will periodically ask you to confirm whether it still applies. If you do not confirm your discount may be cancelled.

If your bill shows that a discount has been given, you must tell us of any changes that affect your entitlement, within 21 days of the change.