Council tax discounts and exemptions

Single person discount

A full council tax bill assumes at least two adults live in a house. If only one adult lives in a house (as their main home), they can claim a quarter off their council tax bill (25%). 

When working out how many adults live in a home, the following people do not count as adults:

  • Full time students
  • Student nurses
  • Apprentices and youth training trainees
  • Hospital in-patients
  • People who are being looked after in care homes
  • People who are severely mentally impaired
  • People staying in certain hostels or night shelters
  • 18 and 19 year olds who are at, or have just left, school and intend to enrol in further education
  • People for whom child benefit is payable
  • Care workers working for low pay, usually for charities
  • People caring for someone with a disability who is not their husband, wife, partner, or a child under 18
  • Members and non-British dependants of visiting forces and certain international HQs
  • Members of religious communities (monks and nuns)
  • People in prison (except those in prison for non-payment of council tax or a fine)
  • Special arrangements may also apply to certain non-British spouses of students

Visit our council tax portal to:

Apply for a single person discount

Tell us if your circumstances change

If you receive a single person discount, you must tell us within 21 days of your circumstances changing, or you may be fined. Visit our council tax portal to:

Cancel a single person discount