Discounts

If you are already receiving a discount, or you do not have to pay council tax on your property (it is exempt), this will be shown on your bill.

Are you entitled to a discount?

The council tax bill assumes there are at least two adults living in a property. If there is only one adult living there, we will reduce the bill by a quarter by applying a single person discount.  The link near the bottom of this page will take you to the on-line claim form for a single person discount. 

Discounts for empty properties are due to change on the 1 April 2013.  The details of these changes can be found by clicking here

A holiday home, which can only be occupied during certain months of the year due to planning restriction, can currently receive a 10% reduction.  From the 1 April 2013 there will be no discount for these properties. 

If you have a second home the discount for the second home is currently 10%. From the 1 April 2013 there will be no discount for these properties. If there is a condition in your contract of employment that insists that you live, and pay council tax, in a specific second home then you can claim a 50% discount for this second home.   

A long-term empty property is no longer awarded any discount as of the 1st of April 2009.  A long term empty property is a property that remains unoccupied and unfurnished after any initial exemption has expired (usually after the first 6 months).

Any property which has been unoccupied and unfurnished for more than two years will be charged an additional premium of 50% in addition to the full annual council tax charge, with effect from the 1 April 2013.

If someone in your home is disabled and either uses a wheelchair indoors or has the total or main use of a room because of this disability, you may be entitled to a reduction in your bill. To find out more, follow this link to the information here

People who can be discounted for council tax

Certain people aren't counted when working out the number of adults who live in your home, these people include:

• 18 and 19 year-olds who are still at school or have left school recently
• full time students and student nurses
• people under the age of 25 who are on youth training schemes
• apprentices earning less than £195 per week
• people who provide full-time care for a disabled relative who is not a child aged under 18 or their husband, wife or partner
• resident care workers earning less than £44 per week.
• long-term residential patients in a hospital or care home
• people with severe mental impairment
• residents of some night hostels or shelters
• people in prison or detained by a court order
• members of religious communities with no income
• diplomats and visiting forces staff.

A discount can only be applied subject to the relevant legal criteria being met.  Be sure to claim if you think you may be entitled to a discount; it costs nothing, but could save you money.

The single person discount form can be completed online below or by clicking here

You can download the relevant discount form from the discount for page and return it to us by post.