Single person discount

You are entitled to a 25 per cent discount on the Council Tax on your home if you're the only person over the age of 18 who lives in your home and it's your sole or main residence. Sometimes you can still claim a single person discount even if other people live with you. This happens when the other person or people who live in the household are disregarded - or aren't counted.

You must tell us within 21 days of any change that may affect your entitlement to this discount. To falsely claim a discount is a criminal offence.

Students and Council Tax

If you're a student, find out how to apply for a student Council Tax exemption or a discount online.

See if you're eligible for a student Council Tax discount

To be eligible you need to:

• attend a University or College course for at least 24 weeks per year
• study for at least 21 hours per week.

If you are under 20 years of age and:

• you attend a University or College course for a minimum of three months
• you study for 12 hours per week

Find information about student discounts and exemptions on the Citizen's Advice website

Apply for student discount online

To apply for a student discount you will need to give evidence of your student status. This can be:

• name of course and start date
• student number
• tenancy start date
• student certificate form from your place of study

Apply for student discount

You must tell us within 21 days of any change that may affect your entitlement to this discount. To falsely claim a discount is a criminal offence.

Disabled reduction

If you or a person who lives with you has a disability you may be entitled to a council tax reduction if one of the following criteria is met.

• a room, which is not a bathroom, a kitchen or a toilet, which is predominantly used by and is required for meeting the needs of the disabled person. I.e. a room that’s original use has been changed to accommodate the disabled person.
• a second bathroom or kitchen which is not the only bathroom or kitchen which is required for meeting the needs of the disabled person. A sole bathroom or kitchen would not qualify.
• Sufficient floor space to permit the use of a wheelchair required for meeting the needs of the disabled person.

If you are entitled to a Disabled Reduction, the band of your property will be reduced to the band below your current band.

You must tell us within 21 days of any change that may affect your entitlement to this discount. To falsely claim a discount is a criminal offence.

Discounts and exemptions for severely mentally impaired people

A person is regarded as severely mentally impaired, if he or she suffers from severe mental impairment of intelligence or social functioning which appears to be permanent. 

The person must be certified by a doctor as severely mentally impaired and entitled to one of the following benefits:

• Personal independence payment
• Incapacity Benefit short term or long-term rate
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Attendance Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• An increase in Disablement Allowance where constant attendance is needed
• Disability Living Allowance high or middle rate (care component)
• Working Tax Credit (disability element)
• An Unemployability supplement.
• Constant Attendance Allowance/ Unemployability allowance payable under the industrial injuries or war pension schemes.
• Income support including a disability premium because of incapacity for work
• Universal Credit which includes an amount under regulation 27(1) of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 in respect of the fact that the person in question has 'limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work-related activity' or would include such an amount but for regulation 27(4) or 29(4) of those Regulations

The property will be exempt if all the people living there meet the above criteria. If any occupants do not qualify, there may be a discount.

You must tell within 21 days of any change that may affect your entitlement to this discount. To falsely claim a discount is a criminal offence.

Alternatively, download and complete the application form

Carers discount

You may qualify for a discount for carers if you're a carer.

To be considered a carer, you need to meet the following conditions:

• Live in the same home as the person you provide care for
• The person receiving care is not your Spouse, Partner or child under the age of 18
• You provide at least 35 hours a week of care to a person who is entitled to receive one of the following:
  - any rate of Attendance Allowance
  - the middle or highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance
  - any rate of the daily living activity component of Personal Independence Payment
  - an increase in his or her disablement pension
  - an increase in Constant Attendance Allowance

To show that you qualify as carer you need to provide:

• Evidence of receipt of benefits
• Proof of address, for example a bank statement with your name and address

You must tell within 21 days of any change that may affect your entitlement to this discount. To falsely claim a discount is a criminal offence.

Persons in Detention

If a property is left empty and was previously the detainee’s sole or main residence it will usually be exempt. If one adult remains at the property, there will be a 25% discount. If there are two or more adults there will be no discount.

To qualify, the person must be one of the following:

• detained in prison or hospital by order of a court
• detained prior to deportation
• detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
• subject to military imprisonment

A person does not qualify if they are:

• in police custody before their first court appearance
• detained for non-payment of council tax or a fine

You must tell us within 21 days of any change that may affect your entitlement to this discount. To falsely claim a discount is a criminal offence.

Apprentices

You may qualify for a discount if you're employed to learn a trade or a profession and you meet all of the following conditions:

• you are not paid more than £195 a week
• your salary is substantially less than you'd get once you're qualified
• your training programme leads to a qualification accredited by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications or the Scottish Vocational Education Council.

To show that you qualify as an Apprentice you need to provide a copy of your apprenticeship agreement or a declaration from your employer confirming:

• The name of your course.
• The start and end dates.
• You will not be paid more than £195 a week (before tax and National Insurance).
• The training leads to a qualification accredited by a body recognised by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) or the Scottish Vocational Education Council (SVEC).

and:

• a copy of your latest pay slip