Council tax discounts
The full council tax bill is based on two adults living in a property. Half of the council tax charge is for the property and half for the occupants. If there is only one person over 18 years of age living in the property, that person is responsible for paying the bill and will be entitled to a discount.
Apply or change a discount online
You can also download these forms below to complete by hand and post back to us.
To request a disabled person's discount or any other type of discount, please download the relevant form below and return it to the address stated on the form. An adjusted bill will be sent to you if you qualify for a discount.
Change of circumstances
Should your circumstances change, for example if someone else aged over 18 moves in to your property, please tell us straight away as this may affect your discount. Use one of the online forms above to tell us, or you can download a form below.
People not counted when working out your council tax
The following people are not counted when working out your council tax:
- Some people who are currently in prison, detention or those sectioned under the Mental Health Act
- People who are severely mentally impaired
- 18 year olds for whom child benefit is payable
- Students, student nurses, Youth Training Scheme (YTS) and apprentices. Also school leavers starting a course of education in the next term
- Patients living in long term residential care homes or hospital
- Some residential care workers receiving less than £36 per week
- Residents of hostels for the homeless or night shelters (if not self-contained accommodation)
- Members and dependants of international defence organisations
- Members of religious communities
- Some people who provide care to another person (other than spouse, partner or child under 18)
- Non British spouses of students
- Persons with diplomatic privileges or immunities
Examples of households qualifying for discounts
Example 1: Single resident discount - if there is only one person over 18 years of age living in the property, the charge will be reduced by 25%.
Example 2: If there is only one person over 18 years old living in the property, but that person is in a category which is not counted, then the charge will be reduced by 50%.
Example 3: If there are two persons over 18 years old living in a property and one is severely mentally impaired and the other person is a care worker employed to look after them, they will quality for a 50% discount. The law is complex on this subject and we need to refer to the regulations.