Council Tax Discounts & Exemptions

The full Council Tax bill assumes that there are at least two adults living in a dwelling. If only one adult lives in a dwelling (as their main home), the Council Tax bill will be reduced by a quarter (25%).

Some people will not be counted (or disregarded) when looking at the number of adults living in a dwelling if they meet any of the following conditions:

• full time students, student nurses, apprentices and Youth Training trainees, non-British spouses of students
• patients resident in a care or hospital on a permanent basis
• people who are severely mentally impaired as defined under Council Tax Regulations
• people staying in certain hostels and night shelters
• Eighteen and nineteen year-olds who are at, or have just left, school
• care workers working for low pay, usually for charities
• people caring for someone with a disability who is not a spouse , partner or child under 18
• members of visiting forces and certain international institutions
• people in prison (except those in prison for non-payment of Council Tax or a fine)

If you think you may be entitled to a discount you should contact the Council Tax Team.  If you think your bill indicates that a discount has been allowed that you are no longer entitled to, you must inform Torbay Council of the change in your circumstance.

Exemptions

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

• Unfurnished (exempt for up to six months from the date they were last occupied)
• Owned by a charity (exempt for up to six months from the date they were last occupied)
• Require, or are undergoing structural or major repair work (exempt for up to twelve months from the date the property is deemed uninhabitable).  Replacement  of fixtures and fittings would not necessarily make a property uninhabitable for Council Tax purposes.
• Occupier currently in prison or held on remand (except those in prison for non-payment of Council Tax)
• Occupier moved to receive permanent care in a residential home or hospital
• Occupier moved to provide care or receive care from another person
• Occupiers were previously all full time students
• Waiting for a grant of probate or letters of administration, in respect of the estate of the previous occupier (and for up to six months afterwards)
• 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
• Are occupied solely by people under eighteen
• Are occupied solely by persons who are severely mentally impaired as defined under Council Tax regulations

If you think your property should be exempt please the Council Tax Team.