Council tax reductions for single occupants

Your council tax may be reduced by 25% if you're the only resident aged 18 or over. This covers your full bill, including water and sewerage charges.

This 25% discount is for properties where only one person lives.

You may still qualify for a reduction even if you live with others who're aged 18 or over. We ignore certain groups (known as disregarded persons) when counting the people living in your home and calculating your council tax.

How to apply

Apply online for a single occupant discount

You'll need to provide:

  • personal details
  • address details
  • information about other people living in your home
  • bank account details (if you wish to pay by Direct Debit)

You can also call 030 33 33 3005 or  visit a Customer Service Centre  to apply.

What happens next

We aim to deal with applications within 10 working days of receiving all the relevant information.

Successful applications
The reduction will be applied to your account from the date you qualify and we can backdate the claim if necessary. We'll update your account as soon as the decision is made and issue a new bill by post.

Unsuccessful applications
We'll write to you and explain why we've made this decision, you've got the right to ask for a review if you're unhappy with the outcome. Our decision letter will explain how to appeal and what information you'll need to provide to support your case. We aim to deal with disputes within 5 working days.

Changes in your circumstances

You should always let us know if your circumstances change for any reason.

Page last updated: 20/10/2023
email icon print icon