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Council Tax discounts and exemptions

Find out about different types of discounts and exemptions, and how you can apply for them.

Student discounts and exemptions

Apply 

To apply for a student discount please upload a student certificate or written confirmation from the educational establishment. This should confirm the course being studied, the start and end date of the course, and the number of hours of study required per week. 

If everyone who lives in a property is a full time student the property is exempt from Council Tax. 

If the property is occupied by both students and non-students, then a reduction of 25% may apply. 

You will usually be considered a full-time student if: 

  • you are enrolled to undertake a full-time course of education at a college, university or other institutional establishment providing courses of further higher education for at least one academic or calendar year 
  • your attendance is required for at least 24 weeks in the year 
  • study for at least 21 hours per week during term time 

Or:

  • if you are under 20 years of age under taking a qualifying course of education up to (but not above) A-level standard or equivalent 
  • it must be more than three months and undertaken for at least 12 hours per week 

If you have someone staying with you for a short period of a few weeks then you do not need to inform us. If they are staying with you long term then you should notify our office as soon as possible. 

Published: 16 December 2020

Last updated: 9 February 2021