Energy Efficiency Council Tax Discount Scheme
Since 1 April 2011, if you use providers approved by The Highland Council to undertake particular energy efficiency measures, you will be entitled to a discount from Council Tax for financial year 2011/12. For the purposes of this Scheme, the Highland Council's approved provider is Scottish Gas.
This Scheme offers cavity wall and loft insulation measures at a discounted cost to eligible applicants. To qualify for a Council Tax discount the individual's household must be liable for a Council Tax Bill in financial year 2011/12 whether the full year's charge is payable or another council tax discount has been awarded. Please note that there may be an alternative scheme available to those in receipt of 100% exemption from their council tax. Consequently, this Scheme is not available to council tax payers in receipt of 100% exemption. Furthermore, the Scheme is not open to Council tenants and those eligible to receive free insulation under any Scottish Government and Scottish Gas schemes.
Eligible applicants accepting Scottish Gas cavity wall or loft insulation will be granted £60* discount from their 2011/12 council tax. If you carry out both of these measures, you will receive £120* discount from your council tax in financial year 2011/12.
The eligible applicant will be offered the following insulation options:
- Cavity Wall Insulation; and/or
- Full Loft Insulation (where none currently exists)
Or
- Top-up Loft Insulation to 270mm (10.5 inches) where the existing insulation is less that 50mm (2 inches) in depth.
*where the amount which the person is liable to pay in respect of council tax is less than £60 (or £120 where both measures are undertaken), the discount amount will be equal to that person's liability.
More information can be obtained by telephoning the Energy Savings Trust on freephone 0800 512 012. They will be able to advise you on the various schemes available to you. Don't delay, telephone today to take advantage of this energy efficiency council tax discount scheme.
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Other 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:
- Students who meet the qualifying conditions (does not include distance learning)
- Youth Training trainees under 25 years of age
- Apprentice earning less than £195 per week
- Student nurses
- Patients in hospital or care/nursing homes
- People who are severely mentally impaired - Severe Mental Impairment Claim Form
- Doctors 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.
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 in the "current documents" section on the right, 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 in the current documents section on the right. 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) An unoccupied property which is undergoing or requires major repair work to render it habitable; or is undergoing structural alteration: Discount can be awarded for up to 6 months from the date of purchase of the property, and (d) dwellings unoccupied and unfurnished for less than 12 months. If you would like to apply for this discount, you can download the Zero Occupancy Discount form using the links in the Current Documents section on the right. Please print and return the completed form to the address on the form. Please check that you have signed and dated the form as we cannot award discount unless we have a signed claim. These forms are also available at Service Points or Local Offices.
From 1 April 2005 the following types of properties have been entitled to a 10% discount from the Council Tax: (a) the property is a second 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, you can download the Zero Occupancy Discount form using the links in the Current Documents section on the right. Please print and return the completed form to the address on the form. Please check that you have signed and dated the form as we cannot award discount unless we have a signed claim. These forms are also available at Service Points or Local Offices.