Discounts

The initial bill for a property assumes there are at least two residents* in the property and the full charge for Council Tax, Water and Waste Water is levied. There is no extra charge if there are more than two residents.

*A resident is a person who is at least 18 years of age. Please note - for Council Tax purposes, persons working away from home are normally still considered a resident.

When adding up the number of residents, certain categories of occupier are not counted i.e. they are disregarded. Detailed below are the disregarded categories:

• Full time students
• Youth Training trainees under 25 years of age
• Apprentice earning less than £195 per week
• Student nurses
• Patients permanently resident in hospital or care/nursing homes
• People who are severely mentally impaired  - Severe mental impairment claim form 
  - Doctor's certificate
• 18 and 19 year olds who are at or have just left school.
• Careworkers on low pay, normally working for charities
• People caring for someone with a disability who is not their partner or child under 18 (they must provide care for 35 hours per week)
• Members of visiting forces and some international institutions
• Members of certain religious communities
• People who are detained in prison or a hospital by a court order (unless they are in prison for not paying Council Tax or a fine)

Single occupiers are entitled to a 25% discount from the Council Tax and Scottish Water Service Charges.

If you think you may be entitled to discount, you can download the relevant discount form or general discount form using the links opposite, print and return the completed form to the address on the document. Please check that you have signed and dated the form as we cannot award discount unless we have a signed claim.

Discount may not be backdated unless independent evidence of the facts can be provided. Information and statement of third party form can be downloaded using the links opposite. Please complete and return to the address on the form.

These forms are also available at Service Points or Local Offices

Some properties which are not occupied are entitled to a 50% discount from the Council Tax.  Properties which attract a 50% discount are as follows: (a)  Purpose built holiday homes, (b) Job-related dwellings, (c) dwellings which have been vacant for more than 12 months prior to the date of purchase and require or are undergoing major repair work to render them habitable, or are undergoing structural repair, and (d) dwellings unoccupied and unfurnished for less than 12 months.  If you would like to apply for this discount, please contact your local Office.

From 1 April 2005 the following types of properties will be entitled to a 10% discount from the Council Tax:  (a) the property is a second family home, (b) the property is occupied only for short term lets, and (c) the property is long term empty.  If you would like to apply for this discount, please contact your Local Office.