Council tax discounts
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. Get advice relating to Scotland
You may be able to get a discount on your council tax bill if you live alone or with someone who is exempt from paying council tax. Find out more about getting a discount and who is exempt.
If you are unsure about whether you can claim a discount, you can always get advice from a Shelter advice centre or Citizens Advice, your local council or other local advice centre. Use our directory to find agencies in your area.
Council tax discounts if you live alone
If you live on your own you can have your council tax bill reduced by 25 per cent.
You can also get a 25 per cent discount if you normally live with someone but they are away from home for the following reasons:
- they are in hospital
- they are in prison
- they are in a residential care home.
Council tax discounts if you alone are liable to pay council tax
If you live with other people but you are the only person in the property liable to pay council tax, you can have your council tax bill reduced by 25%.
Here is a list of people who would not have to pay council tax if they were living with you:
- anyone that you receive child benefit for
- recent school and college leavers under the age of 20
- students under 20
- full-time students attending college or university, depending on the level of course
- student nurses
- someone living with you temporarily whose main home is elsewhere
- apprentices
- people up to the age of 25 who are on a youth training scheme
- someone living with you who is severely mentally impaired
- a person who is the spouse or civil partner of a student, but who is not a British citizen and is not allowed to work or claim benefits under the terms of their leave
- some carers.
Council tax discounts on empty homes
A property that requires major structural repairs or alterations can be exempt from council tax for up to 12 months so long as it is uninhabited. If the property that you have bought has already been empty for a year, you will only be able to claim a 50 per cent discount on the property.
Council tax discounts on empty and unfurnished homes
If your home is empty and unfurnished, you may be exempt from paying council tax for six months. After this time, you may be entitled to a discount on the council tax bill for a further six months. The council decides how much discount you should be granted, which can vary between a minimum of 10 per cent and a maximum of 50 per cent.
Council tax discounts on holiday homes
If you own a purpose-built holiday home, for example a chalet or a mobile home, you will be entitled to a 50 per cent discount on your council tax for your holiday home.
If you own a holiday home that could otherwise be used as a permanent home, the council can give you a discount of between 10 per cent and 50 per cent.
How to claim a council tax discount
If you believe that you are entitled to a discount on your council tax, you should let the council know in writing. You can find their address by searching on the Directgov website.
Some councils will ask you to complete a form. If you think that you may be entitled to a discount but you have not yet applied for one, you can then ask to have it backdated, which means you may get some money back from the council.
If you have a change in your circumstances which means you would no longer be entitled to a discount, you must notify the council tax department immediately. Failure to do so could result in a fine and council tax arrears.
