Council Tax Discounts
To establish whether you are entitled to a discount please click
here>>
While only one person lives in a property they
will be entitled to a 25% discount on their bill. To claim this
reduction please complete and return the following application
form.
For furnished properties which are no one's
main home, the liable person will receive a 10% discount. Furnished
properties that are no one's sole or main residence but are subject
to planning restrictions/conditions and properties provided for
reasons of employment will receive a 50% discount.
Discounts can also apply to people such as
students, apprentices, student nurses, Youth Training trainees,
school leavers, certain carers and careworkers, persons in
detention and severely mentally impaired people. Such
discounts however, can only be given where there are not two
or more other adults also resident at the property. If you
think you may be entitled to a discount not already allowed, you
should contact the Council as shown at the head of the bill.
Long Term Empty Properties
The Local Government Act 2003 allows local
authorities to reduce or remove completely the amount of discount
for long term empty homes (those which are unoccupied and
substantially unfurnished). In accordance with the provisions of
Act, Havant Borough Council has taken the decision not to allow any
discount in respect of long term empty properties and these will be
subject to the full Council Tax bill. The exemption, up to a
maximum of six months from Council Tax, allowed to properties
when they first become empty
Persons Disregarded for Purposes
of Discount
The following persons will be
disregarded, that is to say treated as if not resident, for the
purposes of deciding whether a discount should be awarded. The
legislation is very technical so please click on any description
you are interested in.
Persons in detention
A person who is detained in a
prison, hospital or other place by virtue of an order under the
Immigration Act 1971 regarding deportation, under parts of the
Mental Health Act 1983, or the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984.
If the person is temporarily discharged or temporarily released
under the Prison Act 1952 or the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989 then
he shall be treated as still detained. The person shall not be
disregarded where they are detained for non-payment of the Council
Tax or a fine or under section 407 of the Criminal Procedure
(Scotland) Act 1975.
Additionally a person imprisoned,
detained or in custody under the Army Act 1955, the Air Force Act
1955 or the Naval Discipline Act 1957, not under open arrest;
and the custody forms part of a continuous period exceeding 48
hours during which he is under arrest.
Severely Mentally Impaired
If you believe you would be
entitled to a single discount because a person in the household is
disregarded in this category please click : severely
mentally impaired for more details.
Person for whom Child Benefit is payable
A person who has attained the age
of 18 years and in respect of whom another person is entitled to
child benefit, or would be entitled but for paragraph 1(c) of
Schedule 9 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act
1992.
Students
If you believe you would be
entitled to a single discount because a person in the household is
disregarded in this category please click: 'student'.
Hospital Patients
A patient who has his sole or main
residence in a health service hospital or military
establishment where health treatment is provided for persons
subject to military law.
Patients in Homes in England &
Wales
A person who has his sole or main residence in a residential care home, nursing home, mental nursing
home or hostel
in England and Wales and is receiving care and/or treatment in the
home or hostel.
Patients in Homes in Scotland
A person who has his sole or main
residence in a residential care home, nursing
home, private hospital or hostel in Scotland and is receiving care
and/or treatment in the home, hospital or hostel.
Care Worker
A care worker providing care or
support on behalf of a relevant body or is employed to provide such
care or support by the person to whom it is provided and to whom he
was introduced by a local authority, the City of London, the Isles
of Scilly, the Crown or a body established for charitable purposes
only. The care worker Is employed to do so for at least 24 hours a
week, paid no more than £44.00 per week and is resident in premises
provided by or on behalf of the relevant body or his employer for
the better performance of his work.
Carers
The carer is resident in the same
dwelling as the person to whom they are providing care,
provides that care for at least 35 hours a week on average, and is
not a spouse, partner of the person receiving the care or the
parent of a person receiving the care who is below the age of 18
years
The person receiving care must be
someone who is entitled to any one of the following:
- A higher rate Attendance
Allowance
- The highest rate of the Care
Component of a Disability Living Allowance
- An increase in the rate of his
Disablement Pension
- An increase in a constant
Attendance Allowance
More than 1 occupant can apply to
be disregarded as carers which could allow a discount of up to 50%
in certain circumstances e.g if the person being cared for is
Severely Mentally Impaired.
Residents of certain
dwellings
A person who has his sole or main
residence in a hostel or night shelter, the accommodation is
predominantly provided otherwise than in separate and
self-contained sets of premises for persons of no fixed abode and
no settled way of life, and under a license to occupy which does
not constitute a tenancy.
Persons of other descriptions
The Local Government Act 1992
provides for regulations to describe other persons to be
disregarded for the purpose of discounts. To date they are:
Members of International Headquarters and Defence
Organisations
If you believe you would be
entitled to a discount if this applies to a member of the
household, please click here.
Religious Communities
Where a religious community occupies a dwelling then the
owner is liable for the Council Tax and a person can be disregarded
for Council Tax discount purposes if he is a member of such a
community.
School Leaver
If you believe you would be entitled to a single discount
because a person in the household is disregarded in this category
please click: school
leaver.
Members of Visiting Forces
If you believe you would be entitled to a single discount
because a person in the household is disregarded in this category
please click : member or dependant of a visiting force.
Spouses of students
A person who is the spouse or
dependant of a student may be disregarded for discount purposes.
Please see section 12.38 for more details.
Diplomats and a person with immunity
If you believe you would be
entitled to a single discount because a person in the household is
disregarded in this category please click :
diplomat
or a person with immunity.