Single occupants of a property are entitled to a 25% discount on their council tax bill.
Furnished properties that are no-one's sole or main residence but are subject to planning 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 living at the property.
You might also be entitled to council tax support. Council tax support is a means tested benefit (income and savings are taken into consideration) which will help you to pay your council tax.
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 this 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.
Properties that have been unoccupied and unfurnished for at least two years and are not subject to a statutory exemption will have an additional premium of 100% council tax applied to them, or 200% if empty for over five years.
These periods will include any period where an empty property discount has been awarded.