If your bill shows 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 you fail to do so, a penalty of £70 may be imposed.
Information on how to apply for Single Person Discount
A full Council Tax bill is based on at least two adults living in a 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%. This is called a Single Person Discount (SPD).
Apply for a Single Person Discount
Cancelling a Single Person Discount
If you receive a Single Person Discount on your Council Tax, you must tell us straight away if your circumstances change and you are no longer entitled to it.
You must notify us if:
- Another adult moves into your home on a permanent basis, or
- There is any other change that means you are no longer the only qualifying adult living at the property
If you do not notify us within 21 days of the change a penalty may be applied.
Sole or main residence
We may need to clarify if a property is someone’s main home for Council Tax purposes. Since there’s no clear definition in the law, we follow court decisions. We must consider the following when determining which property is a persons’ sole or main residence for council tax purposes:
- A main home should be permanent.
- Staying somewhere on a temporary basis doesn’t make it your home.
- Being away temporarily would not change your place of residency (such as holiday, working away or in hospital)
When deciding if a property is your main home, we look at:
- If you plan to return there.
- How much time you spend there.
- Your family connections to the property.
- Your legal rights to the property
- How much you rely on the property (like storing things, doctor registration, or kids’ school).
- If you’re registered to vote there.
For council tax purposes, where a property is furnished but is not deemed to be a persons’ sole or main residence, it is classified as a second home.
What happens next?
Once your application has been submitted, we will check to see if you are eligible for an exemption or discount. We may ask you for further information regarding your circumstances.
Once the discount or exemption 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 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.