Council Tax Discounts and Exemptions

Live alone? Get 50% off.

Live with another apprentice/trainee? Get 25% off.

To qualify as an apprentice:

Employed to learn a trade/profession

On a training programme leading to a qualification

Paid no more than £269/week (before tax/NI)

To qualify as a youth trainee:

Under 25

On a recognised course or training plan

Complete this form to apply

Armed forces accommodation is exempt from Council Tax (whether occupied or not).

Visiting armed forces accommodation is also exempt if the members are not British citizens or ordinarily resident in the UK.

Complete this form to apply

If you’re a care leaver (aged 18–25, previously looked after by a Local Authority), you don’t pay Council Tax until your 26th birthday.

Live with one other person? Get 25% off.

Complete this form to apply

Who can apply?

You must:

Provide at least 35 hours of care each week

Live in the same home as the person you care for

Care for someone who is not your:

Child under 18

Spouse or Partner

The person you care for must receive one of these benefits:

Attendance Allowance – any rate

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – Daily Living Component (any rate)

Adult Disability Payment (ADP) – Daily Living Component (highest rate)

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) – Care Component (middle or high rate)

Child Disability Payment – Care Component (highest rate)

Pension Age Disability Payment – any rate

Armed Forces Independence Payment

Constant Attendance Allowance or an increased rate of Disablement Pension

What discount can you get?

If you live with one other person, you’ll get a 25% discount.

If that person also qualifies for a discount, the total discount could be 50%.

If your home is empty because you’ve moved to provide care for someone long-term in their home, you may be eligible for a 100% Council Tax exemption.

Complete this form to apply

If you get Child Benefit for someone who is 18 or over, and there are no other adults in the property,
you may receive a 25% discount on your Council Tax.

We may need to see evidence of your Child Benefit.

Complete this form to apply

A person detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 or Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 is exempt from Council Tax if they normally live in their house on their own.

Complete this form to apply

If your home has features essential for a resident disabled person’s well-being, you may qualify for a reduction. This includes:

Enough indoor space for a wheelchair (used indoors)

An extra kitchen or bathroom for the disabled person’s needs

An extra room (not a bathroom, toilet, or kitchen) set up for their needs (e.g. for dialysis equipment)

If awarded, your Council Tax band will drop by one (e.g. from Band C to Band B). If you’re already in Band A, you’ll get about 16.5% off.

Complete this form to apply

Hospital Stay

You may qualify if:

The person is in hospital for at least 12 months, or

They expect to be in hospital for that long.

Care Home

You may qualify if:

The person has moved into a care home permanently.

If awarded:

If no one lives in the property, you could get a 100% exemption (no Council Tax to pay).

If one adult remains, you could get a 25% discount.

Complete this form to apply

You might be able to get money off your Council Tax if:

Someone you live with is in prison

Or you are in prison and no one else lives in your home

If you live with one other adult:

If the other person is in prison, you could get 25% off your Council Tax.

If you live alone and you are in prison:

Your property could be fully exempt.

Complete this form to apply

You might be able to get money off your Council Tax if you are part of a religious community.

You can apply if:

You have no income or savings.

You depend on your religious community for your daily needs (like food, housing, and care).

Your community mainly focuses on:

Prayer

Contemplation

Education

Helping people who are suffering

How much discount can you get

50% discount, if you live alone or with only other members of your religious community.

25% discount if you live with one other adult who does not qualify for a discount.

Complete this form to apply

If you're under 20 and you've left school or college on or after 1st May, you might be able to get a Council Tax discount — up until 31st October of the same year.

Complete this form to apply

If you or another adult in your home has a condition like Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, severe learning difficulties, or similar (certified by a doctor and receiving certain disability benefits), you may be eligible for a reduction or exemption.

Live alone? Your property could be fully exempt.

Live with one other adult? You could get 25% off.

Live with two other adults? No discount, unless both are also disregarded.

Complete this form to apply
Download SMI doctor’s certificate

If everyone living in your home is under 18, you don’t need to pay Council Tax.
You can get a 100% exemption - but you need to let us know.

If there's only one adult living in your home, you could get a 25% discount on your Council Tax.
This applies unless that adult already qualifies for another discount.

Complete this form to apply