Sole occupier discount

You are entitled to a discount of 25% if only one adult lives in your property. Find out more here.

If you live alone, you may be able to get a 25% reduction on your Council Tax bill. This is called a sole occupier (single person) discount.

Who can get the discount

You may qualify for the 25% single occupancy discount if:

  • You are 18 or over, and
  • You are the only adult living in your home.

You usually will not qualify if two or more adults live in your home.

Single Occupancy Discount review

Adults who are not counted (disregarded adults)

Some people living in a home are not counted when we work out Council Tax. These people are called disregarded adults.

Examples include:

  • Full time students
  • Student nurses
  • Apprentices
  • Some carers

If someone in your household is disregarded, you will not qualify for single occupancy discount. Instead, you need to apply for the appropriate disregard discount.

You can find the full list of disregarded adults on our Eligibility for discounts and exemptions page.

Full time students

If you or another adult in your household is a full time student, they may not be counted for Council Tax. This is called a student disregard.

This can apply to grown up children who live with you if they:

  • Are 18 or over
  • Are in full time education or training
  • You are no longer receiving Child Benefit for them

You must apply for a student discount.

Single Occupancy Text 1

If, after we have excluded any disregarded adults, only one adult remains living in the property, you will be entitled to a 25% discount on your Council Tax bill.

Single occupancy discount is based on your normal living situation. You cannot receive it if other people usually live with you but are away temporarily. For example, the discount does not apply if someone is working away from home.

How to apply for or cancel your sole occupier discount

  • Apply if you are the only adult (18 or over) living in your home and don't currently receive the discount.
  • Cancel if you already receive the discount but are not longer the only adult in your household.

Start here

If you cancel your single occupancy discount, a new council tax bill will be issued showing your increased charge and revised instalments.

Single Occupancy Discount review

If you have received a letter asking you to confirm who currently lives in your household and whether the discount should continue or be cancelled, you can provide this information by completing the form below.

Start here

Single Occupancy FAQs

Further information

I have already informed the council of a change in circumstances, should I still complete the form?

Yes. Please complete the declaration so our records remain up to date.

What happens if I don’t complete the form?

We will send you a reminder. If following the reminder, a response is still not received, we will carry out further checks to confirm who lives at your address. These checks will involve working with an external agency. If these checks show that the single occupancy discount has been claimed incorrectly, the discount will be removed and backdated and you may be required to pay the amount you were not entitled to. A new council tax bill will be issued detailing your new charge.

What if someone only uses my address for post?

If someone uses your address for correspondence only and their main residence is at another property, you can renew your single person discount.

Sole Occupier Contact us

Contact us

If you have any further questions or need help completing the declaration form, please contact us on 0151 443 4476.

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