Council tax is one of the biggest household bills for UK residents, but many people don’t realise they qualify for discounts that could save them hundreds — or even thousands — of pounds per year. From single person discounts to student exemptions, here’s every major council tax discount and how to claim it.
How Council Tax Is Calculated
Council tax is calculated based on your property’s valuation band (A–H). Your local authority sets a “Band D” charge each year, and other bands pay a proportion of that. For example, if Band D is £2,000 per year, Band A pays 6/9ths and Band H pays 9/9ths.
The standard council tax bill assumes two adults living at the property. If fewer than two adults live there, you may qualify for a discount. Certain groups of people are not counted at all, which can reduce or eliminate your bill.
Single Person Discount (25%)
The most common council tax discount is the single person discount, which gives you 25% off your bill if only one adult lives at the property.
Who Qualifies
You qualify if there is only one adult (aged 18 or over) living at the property. This includes:
- You live alone
- You live with children under 18
- You live with people who are “disregarded” (see below)
How to Apply
Contact your local authority’s council tax team and tell them you are the only adult at the property. You’ll usually need to:
- Provide your name, address, and council tax account number
- Confirm that no other adults live at the property
- Sign a declaration that you’ll notify them if the situation changes
Most councils allow you to apply online, by phone, or by letter. The discount usually applies from the date you tell the council, not from when you first moved in.
How Much You Save
Using a Band D property at £2,000 per year as an example:
| Annual Cost | Monthly Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Full bill (2 adults) | £2,000 | £166.67 |
| Single person discount (25% off) | £1,500 | £125.00 |
| Saving | £500 | £41.67 |
Over five years, that’s £2,500 saved.
People Not Counted (“Disregarded Persons”)
Certain people are not counted when the council works out how many adults live at your property. If enough people are disregarded, you may qualify for a discount or even pay nothing.
Disregarded Groups
The following are always disregarded for council tax purposes:
- Full-time students (see below)
- People with severe mental impairment (see separate guide)
- People who are severely mentally impaired and receive certain benefits
- Foreign nationals who cannot work or claim benefits (certain visa conditions)
- Members of religious communities (e.g. monks, nuns)
- People in detention (prison, detention centre, hospital under court order)
- People staying in hospital or residential care (if the stay is expected to be permanent)
What This Means in Practice
If you live with one other adult, but that adult is a full-time student, they are disregarded. You are treated as the only adult — so you qualify for the single person discount (25% off).
If you live with two other adults, and both are disregarded, you again qualify for the single person discount.
If you live with one other adult and neither of you is disregarded, you get no discount.
Full-Time Student Exemption
Full-time students are completely disregarded for council tax purposes. This means:
- If a property is occupied entirely by full-time students, the bill is reduced by 100% (you pay nothing)
- If a property has one student and one non-student, the non-student gets the 25% single person discount
- If a property has one student and two non-students, no discount applies
What Counts as a “Full-Time Student”
To qualify, you must be:
- Enrolled on a course at a recognised educational institution
- Studying for at least 21 hours per week
- Taking a course that lasts at least one academic year
Most university students in the UK qualify. Part-time students do not.
How to Claim
You’ll need to provide your council with a student certificate from your university or college. This confirms your course dates, that you study 21+ hours per week, and that the course lasts at least one year. Contact your university’s student services or finance office to request one.
Severe Mental Impairment (100% Disregard)
People with a severe mental impairment are disregarded for council tax. If you or someone living with you has a severe mental impairment, this can result in a 100% discount on your council tax bill.
Eligible Conditions
The following conditions are typically accepted:
- Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
- Severe learning disabilities
- Parkinson’s disease
- Severe head injury
- Severe stroke after-effects
- Other conditions causing severe cognitive impairment
The condition must mean the person is “severely mentally impaired” — this is defined as a permanent state of mind that means the person cannot care for themselves or manage their own affairs. A GP must confirm this.
How to Claim
- Ask your GP to complete a medical certificate confirming the severe mental impairment
- Contact your local authority’s council tax team
- Provide the medical certificate along with proof of any relevant benefits (e.g. Attendance Allowance, PIP, DLA)
- The council will assess your claim and apply the disregard
If you or the person with severe mental impairment also lives alone (or everyone else in the property is disregarded), you pay nothing.
See our detailed guide: Severe Mental Impairment Council Tax Discount.
Empty Property Discounts
If a property is unoccupied, there are some council tax discounts available — but they’re more limited than you might think.
Unoccupied and Substantially Unfurnished
Most councils offer a full exemption for the first 6 months an property is empty and unfurnished. After that, some councils charge double council tax.
The rules vary by local authority, so check with your council. Some examples:
- London Borough of Westminster: 100% premium after 1 year (double the normal charge)
- Birmingham City Council: 100% premium after 2 years (double the normal charge)
- Manchester City Council: 50% premium after 1 year
Second Homes
If you own a second home (e.g. a holiday property or a property near your workplace), some councils offer a 10% discount. However, this is not mandatory — some councils have removed it entirely. Wales and Scotland have different rules and may offer different discounts for second homes.
Inherited Property
If you’ve inherited a property that is empty, you may qualify for an exemption while probate is being dealt with. This typically lasts until probate is granted plus 6 months.
Disabled Band Reduction
If someone in your household has a disability, you may be able to reduce your council tax band by one. This is called the disabled band reduction.
Who Qualifies
The property must have:
- A room used exclusively for the disabled person (e.g. a bedroom, or a room used for medical equipment)
- Either a second bathroom or kitchen adapted for the disabled person’s needs
- Sufficient floor space for wheelchair use
The disabled person must be substantially and permanently disabled.
How to Apply
Contact your local authority and apply for the disabled band reduction. You’ll need:
- Details of the adaptations made to the property
- A letter from your GP confirming the disability
- Evidence of the adaptations (e.g. photographs, receipts)
If approved, your property will move down one band. For example, if you’re in Band D, you’d move to Band C — reducing your bill by the difference between the two bands.
Example Saving
If Band D is £2,000 and Band C is £1,778 (based on typical 8/9ths and 6/9ths ratios), moving down one band saves you approximately £222 per year.
Council Tax Reduction Scheme (Low Income)
If you’re on a low income or claiming benefits, you may qualify for a Council Tax Reduction (CTR) — sometimes called Council Tax Support. This is separate from the discounts above and is means-tested.
How It Works
Each local authority runs its own scheme. The reduction depends on:
- Your income
- Your savings
- Your household composition
- Your council tax band
Some councils offer up to 100% reduction for the lowest incomes. Others cap the reduction at 75% or less.
How to Apply
Contact your local authority’s benefits team or apply online. You’ll typically need:
- Proof of income (payslips, pension statements, benefit letters)
- Details of savings and investments
- Bank statements (usually 3–6 months)
- Council tax bill
If you receive Guarantee Credit as part of Pension Credit, you may get a 100% council tax reduction automatically.
How to Apply for All Discounts
Most discounts can be applied for through your local authority’s website or council tax team. Here’s a summary:
| Discount | How to Apply | Evidence Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Single person (25%) | Online, phone, or letter | Declaration of sole occupancy |
| Student exemption | Online or by letter | Student certificate from university |
| Severe mental impairment | By letter or in person | GP medical certificate, benefit letters |
| Disabled band reduction | By letter or in person | GP letter, evidence of adaptations |
| Empty property exemption | By letter or in person | Proof property is empty and unfurnished |
| Council Tax Reduction | Online or by benefits team | Income/savings evidence, benefit letters |
Important: Discounts are not automatic. You must apply for them. Many people miss out because they don’t know the discounts exist or assume they won’t qualify.
Savings Calculation: Band D Example
Let’s walk through a realistic scenario using a Band D property with a standard annual charge of £2,000.
Scenario: Single adult, no disabilities, not a student
- Full bill: £2,000
- Single person discount (25%): -£500
- You pay: £1,500 per year
Scenario: Single adult with severe mental impairment
- Full bill: £2,000
- Severe mental impairment disregard (100%): -£2,000
- You pay: £0
Scenario: Two adults, one full-time student
- Full bill: £2,000
- Student disregarded, so treated as single person: -£500
- You pay: £1,500 per year
Scenario: Two adults, one disabled (with disabled band reduction)
- Full bill (Band D): £2,000
- Reduced to Band C: £1,778
- You pay: £1,778 per year
Scenario: Low income, no other discounts
- Full bill: £2,000
- Council Tax Reduction (means-tested, varies by council): could be up to £2,000
- You pay: potentially £0
Don’t Leave Money on the Table
Council tax discounts are there to help you, but you have to claim them. The single person discount alone could save you £500 a year. Add in other discounts and reductions, and you could be looking at significantly more.
Check your bill, check your eligibility, and contact your council. It’s free to ask, and the savings are real.