Blaby District Council

Summary

Council tax payable on a property is initially based on the assumption that there are at least two adults living in it. However, there are instances where certain people are not counted or 'disregarded' when deciding how many people are solely or mainly living in the property.

How to apply for a discount

1. Follow the links under 'Further information' below to the description of the discount that applies to you;
2. Contact the Council Tax department:
   1. by telephone*, or
   2. download and print the relevant form if applicable, complete the form, sign and date it. Return it to Revenues at the address at the foot of this page (also included on the form).

* Applicable forms are provided below, however if you decide to contact us via telephone, your account will be updated immediately (in most cases).

Online forms

• 25% Single Occupancy Discount Form

Printable forms

• Application for council tax discount for severe mental impairment (PDF, 17KB)

Further information

If someone is disregarded for the purpose of a discount, it does not necessarily mean that the council tax bill is reduced. It is only if the number of adults residing in the property is less than two, not counting any of those who are disregarded, that a discount is awarded.

The following categories of people are disregarded for the purpose of a discount. Choose a discount for more information and the application form if applicable.

Personal Discounts

• Single occupier discount (the only one living in a property)
• People aged 18 for whom child benefit is payable
• Recent school and college leavers under 20
• Students under the age of 20 studying up to A level
• Full-time students attending a college or university
• Foreign language assistants
• Student nurses
• Diplomats
• Foreign spouses or dependants of students
• Apprentices
• National Traineeship trainees
• People in prison and other forms of detention
• People who are severely mentally impaired
• Carers and care workers
• Hospital patients
• People in residential care homes, nursing homes and hostels providing a high level of care
• Members of international headquarters and defence organisations and their dependants
• Members of visiting forces
• Members of religious communities
• Residents in certain hostels and night shelters and other accommodation for those with no fixed abode

Single occupier discount (the only one living in a property)

The full council tax bill assumes there are two adults living in a property. You can cut your bill by 25% if you are the only person aged 18 or over living in your home.

People aged 18 for whom child benefit is payable

People who are aged 18, and their parent guardian is entitled to child benefit on their behalf.

Recent school and college leavers under 20

A person shall be disregarded for any day between the 30th April and 1st November providing that they are under the age of 20, and they have ceased to undertake a qualifying course or a full time course of education during those dates (you will be entitled to a discount up until 31st October in that year). If you are the sole occupier of the property, please see the exemptions page in Related pages.

Students under the age of 20 studying up to A level

You must be under 20 years of age and taking a qualification that exceeds 12 hours per week of study time (between 8.30am and 5.30pm) for a minimum of 3 months. If you are the sole occupier of the property, please see the exemptions page in Related pages.

Full-time students attending a college or university (students under 20 on a qualifying course)

You must be enrolled at a university/college taking a full time course of education; at least 21 hours per week for at least one academic year (24 weeks). If you are the sole occupier of the property, please see the exemptions page in Related pages.

Foreign language assistants

You must be registered with the British Council, and working as a foreign language assistant at a school or other educational institution in Great Britain. If you are the sole occupier of the property, please see the exemptions page in Related pages.

Student nurses

A person shall be disregarded if they are undertaking a course leading to first registration on parts 1 to 8 on the register maintained under the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979; and they are attending a college of nursing and midwifery, or a college of health. If you are the sole occupier of the property, please see the exemptions page in Related pages.

NB Nurses on Project 2000 and other courses at prescribed establishments are counted as 'students' but not Student Nurses.

Diplomats

A person whose privileges and immunities are conferred by certain acts and are not:

• A British Citizen, A British National (overseas) or a British Overseas Citizen
• A British subject under the British Nationality Act 1981 or is a protected person under that Act
• A permanent resident of the United Kingdom

If you are the sole occupier of the property, please see the exemptions page in Related pages.

Foreign spouses or dependants of students

A spouse or dependant (who is not a British Citizen) of a student who is prevented by terms of entry from taking paid employment or claiming Income Support. If you are the sole occupier of the property, please see the exemptions page in Related pages.

Apprentices

To qualify you must be employed to learn a trade, business or profession and, must be undertaking a programme of training leading to a qualification accredited by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications. You must be paid a maximum of £190.00 per week (gross earning) and expect to earn substantially more when qualified. If you are the sole occupier of the property, please see the exemptions page in Related pages.

National Traineeship trainees

To qualify you must be under 25 years of age and undertaking a Training Scheme under Section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973, or Section 28 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. If you are the sole occupier of the property, please see the exemptions page in Related pages.

People in prison and other forms of detention

A person shall be disregarded if he/she is:

• detained in prison, hospital or elsewhere by order of a court, unless they are detained for not paying fines or council tax
• detained under the Immigration Act 1971
• detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
• temporarily discharged, or released under the Prison Act 1952

If you are the sole occupier of the property, please see the exemptions page in Related pages.

People who are severely mentally impaired

In addition to being severely mentally impaired (and have a certificate from a Medical Practitioner to prove this), the applicant must also be in receipt of one of the following benefits.

• Incapacity benefit
• Attendance allowance
• Severe disablement allowance
• Disability living allowance (care component higher or middle rate)
• Increase in disablement pension
• Disabled person’s tax credit (Disability working allowance)
• Unemployability supplement
• Constant attendance allowance
• Unemployables allowance
• Income support that includes a disability premium

Note: A property occupied only by people who are severely mentally impaired and who are liable to pay council tax may be exempt from council tax (please see the exemptions page in Related pages).

• Please see Printable forms above for the Application for council tax discount for severe mental impairment

Carers and care workers

DA person would be disregarded if they are providing care and/or support to one of more people. In order to qualify as a carer, they must satisfy the criteria of ONE of the TWO categories of care worker as detailed below:

Category 1 - professional carer

1. they are providing care or support on behalf of a local authority or charity;
2. were employed by an individual, but have to have been introduced by a charity;
3. care or support is provided for at least 24 hours per week, and;
4. they receive less than £44 per week in payment, and;
5. they live in premises provided for their job.

Category 2 - home carer

1. they provide care to a person who is entitled to one of the following specified benefits:
   • a higher rate attendance allowance;
   • the highest rate of the care component of disability living allowance;
   • the highest determinable rate of a disablement pension;
   • an increased in a constant attendance allowance;
2. live in the same property as the person they are providing care for, and;
3. provide care for at least 35 hours per week, and;
4. they are not a spouse or partner, or the parent of the person where the person being cared for is under 18 years of age.

• Please see Printable forms above for the Application for council tax discount for carers

Hospital patients

You must be resident in hospital on a permanent basis. People staying in hospital for a short time who have a home elsewhere will carry on paying Council Tax at their main residence. If you are the sole occupier of the property, please see the exemptions page in Related pages.

People in residential care homes, nursing homes and hostels providing a high level of care

You must be living permanently in and receiving care from one of the following that provides a high level of care:

• A mental nursing home
• A nursing home
• A residential care home
• A bail or probation hostel

If you are the sole occupier of the property, please see the exemptions page in Related pages.

Members of international headquarters and defence organisations and their dependants

A member (or dependant) of certain international headquarters or defence organisations listed in section 1 of the international and defence organisations Act 1964. If you are the sole occupier of the property, please see the exemptions page in Related pages.

Members of visiting forces

A member of a visiting force and their dependents shall be disregarded if they have a relevant association, with a body or detachment of a force within the meaning of the Visiting Forces Act 1952.

A person has a relevant association if he/she is:

1. A member of that force, or a member of a civilian component of that force, or
2. Is a dependent of a member, provided that the dependent is not a British Citizen or is not ordinarily resident in the UK

If you are the sole occupier of the property, please see the exemptions page in Related pages.

Members of religious communities

A person shall be disregarded if:

• He/she is a member of a religious community whose principal occupation is prayer, contemplation, education, or the relief of suffering, and,
• Who has no income, other than a former employer’s pension, no capital and is dependent on the community for their material needs.

If you are the sole occupier of the property, please see the exemptions page in Related pages.

Residents in certain hostels and night shelters and other accommodation for those with no fixed abode

A person shall be disregarded if he/she is a person who has their sole or main residence in a hostel, night shelter or similar property and the accommodation mainly:

1. Comprises of units that are not self contained, and,
2. Is for persons of no fixed abodes or settled way or life, and,
3. Where occupation is by way of licence that does not constitute a tenancy.

Related pages on this website

• Benefits - national fraud initiative
• Council tax - exemptions
• Making payments to Blaby District Council
• Residents change of circumstances

Contact us

Officer / Team	Revenues Team
Postal address	Blaby District Council Council Offices Desford Road Narborough Leicester LE19 2EP
E-mail address	revenues@blaby.gov.uk
Telephone	0116 272 7530
Fax	0116 272 7790

If you need this information in other languages or formats (large print, Braille or audio), please let us know when you contact us.

This page was last updated on 15th July 2011