You can apply for a 25% discount on your council tax if both of the following apply:

• someone living in your home is a student or student nurse
• apart from them, only one adult lives in the house

If there are only students or student nurses living in the property you may be able to get a 50% discount.

Students

For this reduction to apply a student is someone who is:

• 18 or over and on a full-time course at college, university or similar
• a student nurse on a full-time course at college, university or similar that is:
  • at least one academic year
  • at least 24 weeks of study a year
  • at least 21 hours of study per week
• under 20 years old and taking a course of further education that is:
  • is not above A level standard
  • at least three months long
  • at least 12 hours of study per week

  Tell us someone is a student

Student nurses

For this reduction to apply a student nurse is someone who is:

• on a course which when completed will lead to registration under the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979

We will need to see the certificate from the school, college or university.

  Tell us someone is a student nurse

School leavers

For this reduction to apply a school leaver is someone who:

• is under 20 years old 
• left school or college between 1 May and 31 October 
• was taking a course of further education

If they reach 20 years old before 1 November the discount will stop on their 20th birthday.

  Tell us someone has left school

Properties only lived in by students

You may not have to pay council tax if a property is only occupied by students.

  Tell us a property is only occupied by students

Properties owned by a student

You may not have to pay council tax if a property owned by a student is empty and was last lived in only by students. The owner must be a student or become one within six weeks of leaving the property.

  Tell us a property has been left empty by students

What happens next

After applying you must still pay the amount on your council tax bill until you hear from us.

We'll check every year that you should still get the discount. We may cancel your discount if you don't reply when we contact you.

Tell us about a change

If you no longer qualify or something changes you must tell us within 21 days. You may have to pay a fine if you don't tell us.

  Tell us about a change

Appeals

If we refuse your application and you don't agree with our decision you can appeal. Once we get your appeal we will decide within two months.

  Appeal against a council tax decision