Single Person Discount

The full Council Tax bill assumes that there are two adults living in your home. If only one adult, aged 18 or over, lives in a dwelling as their sole or main residence, the Council Tax bill will be reduced by 25 per cent. This is called a single person discount.

Temporary absences (i.e. a holiday or working away) would not qualify for this reduction.

Applications for discounts will be verified and subject to periodic review. The Council may use third party organisations to carry out such checks using financial and credit referencing information.

If your bill indicates that a single person discount has been allowed, you must tell Council Tax Department of any change in your circumstances which may affect your entitlement within 21 days. If you fail to do so, a penalty of £70 may be imposed.

You can apply or cancel your single person discount by completing the online application form. If you are subject to a single person discount review and have received a new bill, but wish to reapply please complete the online single person discount re-apply form.

Disregards

Certain people are not counted when looking at the number of adults resident in a property. They are disregarded if they are one of the following:

• Single Person Discount Application
• Council Tax Discount Application - Student NB/ students studying outside the European Union will not qualify for a student discount or exemption
• Council Tax Discount Application - Student Nurse
• Council Tax Discount Application - Under 20 Years of Age in Further Education
• Council Tax Discount Application - Severely Mentally Impaired
• Council Tax Discount Application - Person in Detention
• Council Tax Discount Application - Carers NB/ cannot apply where the person being cared for is the partner, spouse or child (under 18) of the carer
• Council Tax Discount Application - Apprentice
• A Member of a Religious Community
• A member of a visiting force 
• A long term hospital patient
• A patient in a residential home
• A resident of a hostel, night shelter or similar dwelling
• A member (or dependant) of an International Headquarters or Defence Organisation, or a diplomat

If you think you are eligible for a discount or reduction, click the appropriate link to get further information or contact us via email.

You should advise the Council immediately any changes occur that may stop the entitlement to receive the reduction in the Council Tax bill. Failure to do so may result in a penalty of £70 being imposed.