Council Tax discounts

People who fall into certain groups are disregarded as residents when working out entitlement to a discount (ie they are not counted as residents).

If a dwelling is occupied by two or more residents and all but one of them can be disregarded then the dwelling is treated as though it has only one resident and the Council Tax bill will be reduced by 25 per cent.

If all the adult residents of a dwelling can be disregarded, the dwelling is treated as though it has no residents and the Council Tax bill will be reduced by 50 per cent.

The following groups are examples of disregarded persons:

• students, student nurses, apprentices and Youth Training trainees

• patients who live in a hospital or nursing home

• severely mentally impaired persons

• 18 and 19 year olds for whom child benefit is payable

• people in detention (except those in prison for non-payment of Council Tax or a fine)

• some carers or care workers

• members of religious communities

Derbyshire Dales District Council has exercised its discretion to vary the discount applicable to properties that are not occupied as anyone’s main residence and that are not exempt from Council Tax.

If the property is furnished (known as a "second home" for Council Tax purposes), then the Council Tax bill will be reduced by 10 per cent (the only exception to this is where the property is required for job related purposes, i.e. the property is provided by the occupier’s employer, in which case the council tax bill will be reduced by 50 per cent). If the property is substantially unfurnished (known as a "long-term empty property" for Council Tax purposes) then no discount will be allowed.

If you think you may be entitled to a discount, please contact the Revenues Section. Full details of all the discounts (including all the disregarded groups) are available on request.

If your bill indicates that a discount has been allowed, you must tell the revenues section within 21 days of any change of circumstances which affects your entitlement. If you fail to do so you may be required to pay a £50 penalty.