Council Tax - Exemptions

Some dwellings are exempt, including properties occupied only by students, and vacant properties which:

• are unfurnished (exempt for up to six months)
• are owned by a charity (exempt for up to six months)
• require or are undergoing structural alteration or major repair (exempt for up to twelve months)
• are left empty by someone who has gone into prison, or who has moved to receive personal care in a hospital or a home elsewhere
• are left empty by someone who has moved in order to provide personal care to another person
• are left empty by students
• are waiting for probate or letters of administration to be granted (and for up to six months after)
• have been repossessed
• are the responsibility of a bankrupt's trustee
• are empty because their occupation is forbidden by law
• are waiting to be occupied by a minister of religion
  

If you think your property may be exempt you should contact the Council Tax Section immediately.

People with Disabilities
If you, or someone who lives with you, needs a room, or an extra bathroom or kitchen, or extra space in your property to meet special needs arising from a disability, you may be entitled to a reduced Council Tax bill. The bill may be reduced to that of a property in the band immediately below the band shown on the valuation list. These reductions ensure that disabled people do not pay more tax on account of space needed because of a disability. If your home is in Band A, from 1st April 2000, a reduction may be granted under this scheme. Further details are available from the Council Tax Section.

Empty Properties and Second Homes
Some empty properties are exempt. Other empty properties receive either a 50 percent discount or, if they are second homes or holiday homes no discount at all. Your bill indicates if the Council believes that your property is a second or holiday home, you should contact the Council if you think its decision is wrong.

Granny Annexes
The Government has announced proposals that where an Annex or similar self contained part of a property is occupied by an elderly or disabled relative of the residents living in the rest of it, then it should not be regarded as a separate dwelling for Council Tax purposes. If you think you will be affected by these proposals please contact the Council Tax Section : Telephone (01495) 355211/12.

Council Tax Benefit
Council Tax benefit will help people on low incomes to pay their council tax bills. For instance, if you are on Income Support, you will normally pay no council tax. You may qualify for benefit, if you work and if your income is below a certain level. For further information please contact the Benefits Section or click on the link below:

Council Tax Benefit

Exemption Forms
These forms are available from the Related Pages link, situated on the right hand side of this page. They require printing out and posting back to the department stated on the form. The forms are downloadable in Adobe Acrobat format, you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these forms. Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded for free from the following website: http://access.adobe.com/