In this guide
3. Living alone
Adults who live alone in a property are entitled to a Council Tax discount. A discount is also available to properties where there is only one adult living with certain groups of people:
- If you are the only adult living in a property you will get 25% Council Tax discount
- If you are the only adult living in a property and you fall into one of the categories below you could get a 50% discount
- If you are the only adult living with one or more persons who fall into one of the categories below you’ll get a 25% discount
- If you are living with one or more persons who fall into one of the categories below and you also fall into one of the categories below you could get a 50% discount.
Eligible categories
- A person aged 17 or under.
- A person aged 18 and someone is entitled to receive Child Benefit for them.
- A person under 20 years old who has left school or college after 30 April of that year. (They are not counted for Council Tax until 1 November of the same year, whether or not they take up employment during that time).
- A person on a government training scheme or some apprentice schemes.
- A full time student (this includes correspondence or on-line courses).
- A student nurse.
- Foreign Language Assistants on the official British Council programme.
- A spouse, civil partner or dependant of a student (who is a non-British Citizen) who is not allowed under immigration rules to claim benefit or work in the UK.
- A severely mentally impaired person.
- A person who is staying in certain hostels or night shelters e.g. Salvation Army or Church Army Hostel.
- A person living in a hostel which provides care or treatment because of old age, physical or mental disability, past or present mental illness, or past or present alcohol/drug dependence.
- A live-in care worker.
- A person in prison or someone in detention either awaiting deportation or under mental health legislation (unless their sentence is for non-payment of Council Tax or a fine).
- Someone living in a bail or probation hostel.
- A member of a religious community.
- A member of a visiting armed force and their dependants.
- A person caring (full time) for someone with a disability (who is not their husband, wife, partner or child under 18).
- A person currently undergoing a long-term period as a hospital patient and who lives in hospital.
- A person living in a care home, nursing home or mental nursing home.
- A diplomat.
If you think you may be eligible you should contact your local authority Council Tax department.