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Council Tax Discounts

How we provide this service

Your council tax can be reduced if you live on your own, some or all of the people living in your property are not counted as living with you, or, your property is not anyone's main home.

Your bill will tell you of any discount you may have already been given. You MUST inform the Council Tax Section of any changes in your circumstances that may affect any discount shown on your bill.

Council Tax is supported by Finance, Benefits and Revenues.

Fax: 01775 711253
Email: counciltax@sholland.gov.uk

What to do to get this service

Please see the list below to see which discount you should be claiming. If you need further advice or information please contact us on 01775 761161 and ask for council tax billing.

Who can apply?

25% Single Person Discount - You can get this discount off your bill if you are the only adult who lives in a property. SinglePerson Discount Application Form

50% Discount- You can get this discount if your property is no one's main home. A property will count as someone's main home if it's where they normally live and they are only temporarily absent from it.

The regulations relating to unoccupied properties changed in April 2004. Council Tax legislation now gives local authorities the discretion to reduce or withdraw the amount of discount given. South Holland has not exercised its discretion to do this for the financial year 2004/2005.

From April 2005 however we have decided to reduce the discount allowed for second homes.

Second Homes
Second homes are those which are furnished but not used as anyone's main home. The council tax discount will be reduced from 50% to 10% with effect from 1 April 2005.

However some second homes will still qualify for a 50% discount. These exceptions are:

a) Where a planning restriction prevents occupancy for a continuous period of at least 28 days
b) Where the council tax payer is required to live in 'job related accommodation' because of their employment terms or conditions (for example a minister of religion resident in a dwelling for the performance of their duties or publicans required to live on licensed premises)
c) Where the council tax payers are service personnel living in armed forces
d) Second homes that are pitches occupied by caravans
e) Second homes that are moorings occupied by boats

Long Term Empty Properties
Long term empty properties are those which are unoccupied, substantially unfurnished and not exempt from council tax. We have decided to remove the 50% council tax discount for these properties with effect from 1 April 2006

Discount Disregards - Some people don't count as occupiers and are disregarded. If two or more people live in a property .
- You can get 25% off your bill if only one of the people counts as an occupier
- You can get 50% if no one who lives there counts as an occupier.

The following is a list of people who don't count as occupiers:
- full time students
- the partner of a student or the dependant of a student who is not a British Citizen
- long-term patients in hospital or who live in care homes
- severely mentally impaired Severe Mental Impairment Application Form

- 18 and 19 year olds still eligible for child benefit
- school or college leavers aged under 20
- volunteer care workers
- residents of hostels for the homeless or night shelters
- carers looking after someone who is not their partner and not a child who is under 18 years old Carer Application Form
- members of religious communities
- members of visiting armed forces and international institutions
- diplomats
- people in prison (not those in prison for not paying fines or their council tax)
- student nurses
- apprentices Apprentice Application Form
- YTS trainees

Contact Name for this service

Council Tax Billing Section

Telephone number for this service

01775 761161

Links to forms, leaflets and websites providing more information

SinglePerson Discount Application Form
Severe Mental Impairment Application Form
Carer Application Form
Student Application Form
Apprentice application form

What do I need to provide?

25% Single Person Discount Single Person Discount Application Form

50% Discount ? a letter stating whether or not the property is furnished and confirming your main home address. If the property is furnished and unoccupied after your tenants have moved out, please confirm the date they vacated and give any new address you may have for them.

Discount Disregards:
Full time students and Student nurses? a student certificate for each student and an application form Student Application Form

The partner of a student or the dependant of a student who is not a British Citizen - a student certificate for the student and a copy of the dependants visa that shows they are unable to work in the UK or claim benefits

Long-term patients in hospital or who live in care homes ? Letter confirming the name and address of the hospital or care home; and date of admittance; and confirmation that the stay will be permanent.

Severely mentally impaired - a completed application form Severe Mental Impairment Application Form

18 and 19 year olds still eligible for child benefit ? A letter from the school or college that gives their date of birth and also confirms the type of study and a photocopy of the front and inside page of their child benefit book

School or college leavers aged under 20? A letter from the school that gives their date of birth and the date they left school

Volunteer care workers ? a completed application form

Residents of hostels for the homeless or night shelters - A letter from the hostel/night shelter confirming the dates the person entered the establishment and is expected to leave

Carers looking after someone who is not their partner and not a child who is under 18 years old ? a completed application form

Members of religious communities? Proof that they receive no income and have no capital of their own. A letter from the head of the religious community that confirms its full name and address, its principal occupation and any income the person receives from the community

Diplomats, members of visiting armed forces and international institutions ? Written confirmation of the occupier?s status is required from the Embassy or international organisation headquarters. Or for visiting forces a certificate under section 11 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952.

People in prison ? Name and prison number; name of prison(s); date detention began; expected release date

Apprentices? A completed application form Apprentice application form

YTS trainees ? Proof of date of birth; and written confirmation from the training provider they attend a recognised training scheme

Common Questions

Q. Can I have a single person discount because my husband works away in London all week or works abroad, and only comes back home for holidays?

A. No - case law in the High Court has established the principle that a person's home will be regarded as "Where they would normally live were it not for their work commitments" even if the majority or virtually all of their time is spent elsewhere. In this case, the husband is treated as having his main residence with his wife.

Q. Why do I have to pay council tax on unoccupied and unfurnished properties?

A. The reason for this is that the government wants to discourage owners from leaving property empty. They believe that such properties create extra costs for councils because they can encourage vandalism, crime, accumulation of rubbish, vermin and general nuisance. It is felt that the owners should contribute towards these costs especially as they benefit from other locally provided services like police, fire, roads, and such like.

Q. Can I have a discount for prompt payment? I've paid the full year up front.

A. The power to do this is at the discretion of the Council and the current policy is not to offer it in any circumstances. It is felt that to do so would discriminate against the poorer section of the community who could not afford to pay very far in advance. The better off can afford to pay up front, but they don't have to! Giving them a discount would be to their advantage, but it would be at the expense of the less well off.

Q. Can I have a 25% Single Person Discount because my partner works away all week and only comes home at weekend?

A. No - case law in the High Court has established the principle that a person's home will be regarded as "Where they would normally live were it not for their work commitments" even if the majority or virtually all of their time is spent elsewhere. In this case, the husband is treated as having his main residence with his wife.

Q. I have bought this property and will be using it as a holiday home - I still live in Manchester and pay council tax there. Do I get a discount on my bill?

A. Yes - if this property is your second home you will receive a 10% discount on your bill

Q. Do I get a discount if my husband is a student?

A. Yes - if there is only you and your husband who live in the property then you will receive a 25% discount on your bill simply complete the application form Student Application Form

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Contact Details

If you have any queries about the information provided above, or require further information, please contact Customer Services on 01775 761161 or email info@sholland.gov.uk.