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Council Tax Discounts
                       
The full council tax bill assumes that two adults live in a dwelling.  If only one adult lives there, the bill is reduced by a quarter (25%).  If no one lives there and the property is unfurnished, the bill is reduced by half (50%).  If the property is no-one's main home but is furnished then the bill is reduced by a quarter (25%).   

Certain people are not included when counting the number of adults in a property.  
 
Here is a list of those who are not counted: -
  • Students on full-time courses (please note - properties occupied only by full-time students will be exempt from the council tax)
  • Foreign Language Assistants
  • Student Nurses studying for their first inclusion on the Register
  • Carers living with and looking after someone who is not a partner or child under 18
  • Care Workers who work for a charity, live on the premises and earn no more than £44 per week before tax
  • Severely Mentally Impaired Persons, including those suffering from Alzheimer's Disease
  • 18 or 19 Year Olds who are at or have just left school
  • Residents in Nursing and Care Homes
  • Resident Hospital Patients with no home elsewhere
  • People in Legal Detention, except those who are imprisoned for not paying a fine or the council tax
  • Youth Training Trainees
  • Apprentices earning a maximum £195 per week before tax
  • Members of Religious Communities (Monks and Nuns)

To work out if you qualify for a discount, count the total number of people aged over 18 whose main home is with you, then leave out any on the above list. If you are left with two or more then no discount will apply. If there is one person left, then your bill may be reduced by 25%. If you are left with no one, your bill may be reduced by 50%.

 

Application Forms

One Adult Discount (pdf)

Full-Time Students (pdf)

Student Nurses (pdf)

Foreign Language Assistants (pdf)

Carers (pdf)

Care Workers (pdf)

School Leavers (pdf)

Persons in Detention (pdf)

Apprentices (pdf)

In some cases you will be asked for documentary evidence, e.g. students must provide a certificate from their college or university.  The application forms detail the documentary evidence you need to supply before your discount can be processed.

For further advice contact the Council Tax office.

Discounts are reviewed at least once a year, either in writing or by personal visit by one of our Inspectors, who carry full identification.

If you are receiving a discount you must tell us if your circumstances change.  If you do not do so within 21 days of the change you may have to pay a penalty of £50.  

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