warning signDue to essential maintenance our telephone system will be unavailable for around 10 minutes at 6pm today (Monday 18 March 2024). If you need to contact the emergency housing repairs service or emergency homeless line during this time please call 0800 018 6050.  ×

Council Tax discounts, reductions and exemptions

Exemptions

You may not have to pay Council Tax if your home is:

  • Occupied only by students
  • Occupied only by severely mentally impaired persons
  • Occupied only by diplomats 
  • Occupied only by people under 18 years of age
  • An annexe or similar self-contained part of a property that is separately banded and is occupied by a relative over 65 years of age, or a disabled relative
  • Used as visiting defence forces accommodation 

Discounts

Single person discount

The full Council Tax bill assumes there are two or more adults living in the property. If only one adult permanently lives in a property, the Council Tax bill can be reduced by a quarter (25 per cent). You can apply online for the single person discount below:

Apply for a single person discount 

Other discounts 

When looking at the number of adults living in a property, the following people (see list below) are not counted (disregarded). If people in a property are disregarded, a 25 per cent or even a 50 per cent discount can be granted even if more than one person lives there.

  • People in prison (unless in prison for non-payment of Council Tax)
  • 18 or 19-year olds who are at or have just left school 
  • Care workers working for low pay, usually for charities 
  • People caring for someone living with them, with a disability, who is not a spouse, partner, or child under 18
  • Members of visiting forces and certain international institutions
  • Members of religious communities (monks or nuns) 
  • Full-time students, student nurses, apprentices and those on youth training schemes
  • Patients resident in hospital 
  • People being looked after in care homes
  • People who are severely mentally impaired
  • People staying in certain hostels or night shelters

If you think your bill should be reduced, please contact us using the details below.

Please note: If your bill shows that you are getting a reduction you must tell us straight away if anything changes which may affect how much you have to pay. If you fail to do so you may have to pay a penalty. The information on this page is a guide, not a full statement of the law.

Reductions for people with disabilities

You may be entitled to reduced Council Tax if you, or someone living with you, needs a room, or an extra bathroom or kitchen, or needs to use a wheelchair indoors to meet special needs arising from a disability.

The bill may be reduced to that of a property in the band immediately below the normal valuation band for your property (or a reduction of one sixth of the Council Tax for Band A properties). These reductions ensure that disabled people do not pay more tax on account of space needed because of their disability.

If you think you may qualify for disability relief or would like more details, please contact us (see below).

Contact us

Email: council.tax@dacorum.gov.uk
Phone:
01442 228000
Address:
Dacorum Borough Council
Council Tax Section
The Forum
Marlowes
Hemel Hempstead
Herts
HP1 1DN

Page Last Updated: Monday, 18 March 2024 at 12:03 PM