Council Tax exemptions

• People in prison (except those in prison for not paying Council Tax or a fine)
• People staying in certain hostels and night shelters
• Members of religious communities (such as monks or nuns)
• Members of visiting forces or international headquarters and defence organisations

Apply for a Council Tax exemption

You can apply for a Council Tax exemption online by filling in the general enquiry form. Remember to include supporting evidence with your application.

The following occupied properties are exempt from paying Council Tax. You can see a brief description of each exemption below, but please note that further eligibility criteria may apply.

• Halls of residence for students
• Property where all the residents are full-time students and/or student nurses
• UK Armed Forces accommodation
• Visiting Forces accommodation
• Property where all the residents are under 18 years old
• Property where all the residents are severely mentally impaired and would have to pay Council Tax if this exemption did not exist
• Property where all the residents are diplomats
• Domestic property which is part of another domestic property, and the person living in it is a dependent relative of a person living in the main property

Apply for a Council Tax exemption

You can apply for a Council Tax exemption online by filling in the general enquiry form. Remember to include supporting evidence with your application.

The following unoccupied properties are exempt from paying Council Tax. You can see a brief description of each exemption below, but please note that further eligibility criteria may apply.

• Property owned, and last occupied, by a registered charity
  This applies for a maximum period of six months.
• Property unoccupied because the person who would normally pay Council Tax is in prison
• Property unoccupied because the person who would normally pay Council Tax is staying long-term in a care home, hostel or hospital
  The exemption will only be awarded where the person does not intend to return.
• Property unoccupied because the person who would normally pay Council Tax has died, and neither probate nor letters of administration have yet been granted
  This applies until probate / letters of administration have been granted and for six months afterwards (unless someone else becomes the owner).
• Property unoccupied because the law says nobody is allowed to live in it
• Property kept vacant for a religious minister to move into
• Property unoccupied because the person who would normally pay Council Tax is living at another address where they are being cared for
• Property unoccupied because the person who would normally pay Council Tax is living at another address where they are caring for an older person or someone who is ill or disabled
• Property unoccupied because the person who last lived there, and who would normally pay Council Tax, is now a student living elsewhere
• Property unoccupied because the mortgagee has repossessed it
• Property unoccupied because it is the responsibility of a trustee in bankruptcy
• An empty caravan pitch or boat mooring
• Unoccupied domestic property which is part of another domestic property, and can't be rented out separately (e.g. unoccupied 'granny flats')

Apply for a Council Tax exemption

You can apply for a Council Tax exemption online by filling in the general enquiry form. Remember to include supporting evidence with your application.