Can I reduce my Council Tax?
There are various ways in which you are able to reduce your Council Tax bill. If you are already receiving a reduction, your bill will show this. You must inform us of any change in your circumstances that might affect your entitlement to a Council Tax reduction.

Please read this page, and if you think you may be entitled to a reduction, you could download the appropriate application form, or telephone us on 020 8871 8081 to discuss your situation with our Customer Service officers. In some cases we made need to visit your property for confirmation, so please help us deal with your claim for reduction more easily by providing full contact details, such as an email address or telephone number in order that we may make an appointment.

 Discounts
 Exemptions
 Disabled Band Reduction

Discounts
The full Council Tax bill assumes two adults (adult defined as aged 18 years or over).

If only one adult occupies your property you can get 25% off your bill. You can email us at counciltax@wandsworth.gov.uk providing the following details:

• Confirmation that you are the only person over the age of 18 in the property and that it is your sole or main residence.
• The date that your sole occupancy started.

Please note that it is the Council's policy to only backdate a single person discount to the beginning of the previous financial year (1st April) unless satisfactory evidence is provided supporting the request. This should be included in your initial application for consideration.

• We have a form to download and then post to us so you may apply for this discount.
   Download a printable form to claim this discount (8k)
• If the property is no-one's main home, the Council Tax bill can be reduced by 25%. Someone's 'main home' is regarded as the property the majority of their possessions are kept, where they are registered to vote or whether registered at doctors for this address.
• Empty properties; for example, if a property is let to tenants, remains empty yet furnished in-between tenancies and is nobody's main residence during this time, it may attract a 25% discount.
• If a property is someone's second home, and they can prove their main residence is elsewhere (we normally request a copy of a Council Tax bill for the main home, if living in the UK, showing a full charge is being paid), then a discount could apply. Dependant upon whether your main home is in the UK or abroad, please download and post the appropriate form:

 Claim a second home discount if your property is empty and furnished, and your main home is in the UK or abroad (36 kb)

Disregard Discounts
Certain people are not counted when looking at the number of adults who are resident. For example, if two people occupy and one person falls into one of the discount categories listed below (such as being a full time student), the bill will be calculated as if one person is in occupation.

To establish if you are entitled to receive a discount, you should count the number of people who live in the property as their main home, but do not fall into one of the discount categories. If you are left with two or more people, there will be no entitlement to receive a discount.

If one person is left, a 25% discount applies.

If you are the person liable for the payment of Council Tax, but get a discount or are not counted, you will still be liable for paying the reduced Council Tax.

The Council are required to review all discounts on an on-going basis. You will, from time to time, receive letters asking you to confirm that the circumstances that gave rise to the discount still exist and, where applicable, be asked to provide supporting evidence. Failure to provide supporting evidence when requested, will mean that your discount will be cancelled and you will be liable to pay the full Council Tax.

There are a number of situations that can occur which mean you may be eligible for a discount. See the following list to determine whether you might qualify. If you believe you do, please contact us by calling 020 8871 8081 to obtain a relevant application form, or where online forms are available, you may download, print and return by post.

Apprentices
You are employed to learn a trade and undertaking a qualification recognised by the NCVQ. You must be paid a maximum of £195 per week, before tax, and expect to earn substantially more when qualified.

Learn about discounts for Apprentices

Youth Training Trainees
You are under 25 years of age, and receiving training recognised under the Youth Training Scheme.

Learn about discounts for Youth Training Trainees

Full time Students
You are regarded as a full time student for Council Tax purposes if:

• You are attending a university or college course which lasts for at least one academic year, takes at least 24 weeks a year, and involves at least 21 hours allocated study time per week during term time.
• You are under the age of 20 years and studying for more than three months, for at least 12 hours per week for any qualification up to 'A' level, ONC or OND standard.
• Student Nurses studying academic courses at universities or who are on Project 2000 courses are classed as students for Council Tax purposes.
• The period of the student's course runs from the day the course begins until it is completed (the end of the exams) or the student leaves the course uncompleted.

Learn about Student Discounts

Student Nurses
You will be counted as a Student Nurse if you are on a course leading to registration on any of Parts 1 to 6, or 8 on the register. Only Student Nurses studying for first inclusion on the register are not counted.

Learn about discounts for Student Nurses

Resident hospital patients
You will not be counted if you are a patient in a hospital, which is your only main home. If you are in hospital for a short time and have a home elsewhere, you will still be liable for Council Tax at your home.

Resident in a residential care home, nursing home, mental nursing home and hostels providing a high level of care
You will not be counted if you live, and are receiving care, in one of these places, so long as it is your only main home.

People who are severely mentally impaired
For Council Tax purposes, a person is regarded as being severely mentally impaired if they suffer, for whatever reason, from severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning which appears to be permanent.

• In order to receive the discount, the person must gain a certificate from their doctor confirming their impairment.
• The person must also be entitled to one of a number of qualifying Benefits.

People staying in certain hostels and night shelters
A person whose main or only residence is a short stay hostel or night shelter, providing communal accommodation for persons with no fixed abode.

Members of religious communities
You must depend on the community for all your material needs and have no personal income or capital.

Only members whose main work is prayer, contemplation, the relief of suffering, education or a combination of the above are counted.

Over 18, but your parent/guardian still entitled to receive Child Benefit
You will not be counted if you are 18 or 19 years old and in full time education, other than higher education.

You will not be counted if you left school after 30 April until 1 November of the same year.

Carers
You will not be counted if you live with, and care for some one, with a disability who is receiving one of certain allowances or a disablement pension.

You must be providing care for 35 hours per week on average. Persons caring for a husband or wife, or living as a husband or wife, or a child under 18 years cannot receive this discount.

Somebody who cares for an elderly person or a person with a diability in return for a payment of up to £44 per week, can also receive a discount.

People in prison
Prisoners who are on remand or are in prison are not counted, except if they are in Prison for non payment of a fine or Council Tax.

Foreign language assistants
You will need to be registered with the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges and, for the purposes of Council Tax, will be treated as a student.

Members of Visiting Forces, International HQ's and Defence Organisations
You will not be counted if you are a member of one of the above, or a dependant.

Exemptions
In certain circumstances, a property will be exempt from the payment of Council Tax.

Some of these exemptions depend on who occupies a property, for example, if it is occupied only by full time students. Other exemptions will depend on the actual property, for example, if it is uninhabitable.

It is only possible to give a brief description of the types of exemptions that are available; if you feel that you may be entitled to an exemption, please contact us for further advice and a fuller explanation.

If your application for an exemption is refused, you have a right to appeal. The first appeal should be made to the Council and if a local agreement cannot be made; a further right of appeal to the local Valuation Tribunal. Further details can be provided on request or will be given if your application is refused.

Any exemption or discount will only be given for as long as the relevant circumstances exist. You should advise the Council immediately if any changes occur that may stop the entitlement to receive the reduction in the Council Tax bill.

All claims for an exemption must be made in writing and at the time the circumstances apply.

For certain exemptions, the Council may ask for supporting documentation or visit the property for which it is claimed.

• Class A: Unoccupied and unfurnished, undergoing structural alterations or structural alterations complete. 
• Class B: Owned by Charity and empty.  
• Class C: Unoccupied and unfurnished.  Claim this exemption
• Class D: Liable person is detained in prison.  
• Class E: Liable person is in hospital. 
• Class F: Unoccupied and probate granted or awaited. 
• Class G: Occupation prohibited by law. 
• Class H: Held for occupation by a Minister of Religion.  
• Class I: Unoccupied as the person has moved to receive care elsewhere. 
• Class J: Unoccupied as Persons have moved to provide personal care elsewhere. 
• Class K: Unoccupied, where the owner is a student elsewhere, who last occupied the property as their main home.  
• Class L: Unoccupied and mortgagee in possession.  
• Class M: Student hall of residence.  
• Class N: Student household.  Claim this exemption 
• Class O: Armed forces accommodation. 
• Class P: Occupied by a member of a visiting force. 
• Class Q: Vacant and trustee in bankruptcy.  
• Class R: Unused pitch or mooring.  
• Class S: All occupiers are under 18 years of age.  
• Class T: Unoccupied annex 
• Class U: All occupiers are severely mentally impaired.  
• Class V: Occupiers have diplomatic immunity.  
• Class W: Granny annex.

If you believe you qualify for any of these exemptions, and a form is not available online, please contact us on 020 8871 8081.

Disabled Band Reduction
A disabled band reduction may apply if you or anyone in your household are disabled (an adult or child) and the property has been adapted in order to meet the disabled person(s) needs. This property must be the disabled person/s sole or main residence to qualify for the reduction.

If your property does qualify for a disabled band reduction, your council tax bill will be reduced by one band below the official banding shown on the valuation list. This will not affect the value of your home or its entry on the valuation list. If your property falls into band A you may be entitled to a reduction of 1/9th.

A reduction may not necessarily apply just because the disabled person is registered as disabled. The criteria relates to the physical nature of the property.
A reduction can be granted provided one of the following points are applicable and that it is essential or of major importance for the well being of the disabled person who is resident in the household;

• A room other than a bathroom, kitchen or lavatory, which is used mainly by the disabled person and is required for meeting their needs.
• An additional bathroom or kitchen which is required to meet the needs of the disabled person.
• Enough space for the use of a wheelchair where one needs to be used inside the dwelling.

The disabled reduction can only be backdated to the beginning of the financial year in which the application is made; therefore a new application form is required each year.

You are obliged to notify us in writing within 21 days if there is no longer an entitlement to the reduction either because the qualifying individual has vacated or there is a change in circumstances.

It may be necessary for a Council tax inspector to visit the property, to confirm the adaptations that have been made to your property, if so, the Inspector will contact you in order to make an appointment. Please note all staff carry and provide identification.

To claim this discount, please download the application form, print it out, fill it in and return to the address on the front page.

 Disabled Band Reduction application (37 kb)