If you bill indicates that a Discount, Reduction or Exemption has been applied, you must tell the Council Tax Department of any changes in your circumstances which may affect your entitlement within 21 days. If your fail to do so, a penalty of £70 may be imposed.

Information on band reductions for disabled residents

You may be eligible for a reduction in your Council Tax if a disabled person lives in the property and one of the following applies: 

• There is a room (not a bathroom, kitchen, or toilet) required and used mainly by the disabled person to meet their needs. The use of the room must be connected to the individual's disability and necessary for enhancing the wellbeing of the disabled resident of the property; or
• There is a second bathroom or kitchen required to meet the needs of the disabled person; or
• The disabled person needs to use a wheelchair indoors and the property has sufficient space for this. 

Important: 

• The disabled person must be substantially and permanently disabled.
• The property must be their main residence.
• You may be asked to provide medical evidence and allow a property inspection. 

The extra room does not have to have been specially built and can be an existing room, but it must be of major importance to the wellbeing of the person with the disability and extra or additional to what a person would ordinarily need.

If a reduction is granted, the Council Tax is calculated one band lower than it would normally be. If a property is already a band A it is not possible to apply a lower band, but there will be a reduction. The adjustment will be made as shown below:  

How to apply

• To apply click the link below and ensure you have the requested evidence to hand. For example;
• Photos of any adaptions
• A letter/medical report from your GP, social worker or physiotherapist confirming the disability. 

Apply for a Reduction

What happens next?  

Once your application has been submitted or requested, we will check to see if you are eligible for an exemption or discount. We may ask you for further information or evidence.  

Once the exemption or discount has been applied you will receive an updated bill. If we are unable to apply the discount or exemption, we will contact you by email or post.  

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