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Overview
If you are eligible you can get a discount on your council tax bill. If your application is successful we will revise your council tax bill and refund any overpaid amounts.
You must tell us immediately there is a change of circumstances at your property, as this may affect how much council tax we charge you.
Discounts for the number of people living at the property
Single adult discount
If you are the only person aged 18 or over living in a property, you may be entitled to a single adult discount. This discount entitles you to 25% off your council tax bill.
You can also contact us and tell us the date you became the only resident. You may need to send us proof, or give the new address of anyone who used to live with you
If someone else over the age of 18 moves into the property you should tell us straight away as this may affect your discount.
"Disregarded" residents
If one or more of the following "disregarded" people lives in the property, you may be entitled to a discount.
- full-time students*, student nurses, apprentices and youth training trainees;
- 18 and 19 year olds who are at, or who have just left, school or college;
- patients in hospital;
- people being looked after in care homes;
- people staying in certain hostels or night shelters;
- care workers working for low pay, usually for charities;
- people who care for someone receiving certain types of benefits, provided that person is not their husband or wife, partner, civil partner, or a child under 18;
- members of visiting forces and certain international institutions;
- foreign diplomats;
- members of religious communities (monks and nuns);
- people in detention
- people who are severely mentally impaired; and
- Ukrainian refugee under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship Scheme (HFU)
*Students need to get a council tax certificate from their place of study. For more information see Council Tax and Students.
Discount amounts for disregarded people
| Number of residents** | % discount |
|---|---|
| All residents disregarded | 50% |
| All residents except one disregarded | 25% |
| All residents except two or more disregarded | 0% |
** A 'resident' means a person aged 18 or over who has their sole or main residence in the dwelling concerned. Therefore persons under 18 and persons in any of the discount disregard categories, are not taken into account when deciding whether the full tax is payable.
Apply for a discount
- Student discount application form
- Other categories: Council tax discounts form
Empty properties and second homes
No discounts are available for second homes or empty properties.
Reductions for people with disabilities
We will give you a reduction on the amount you have to pay if you or, someone who lives with you is disabled and certain conditions are met. This is called Disablement Relief.
The property must be the disabled person's sole or main residence. The reduction may also be claimed if the disabled person is a child. The person must be substantially and permanently disabled, whether by illness, injury, congenital deformity or otherwise.
- To qualify, the property must provide one or more of the following as essential or of major importance to the well-being of the disabled person:
- A room that is not a bathroom, kitchen or lavatory, that is mainly required for meeting the disabled person's needs. The room must be directly linked with the disabled persons disability, for example a room used especially for kidney dialysis treatment
- An additional bathroom or additional kitchen for meeting the needs of the disabled person
- Sufficient floor space for a disabled person who has to use a wheelchair around the home
If a reduction is granted, the council tax due for the property is charged on the basis that the property is placed one band lower, for example if the property had been placed in Band 'D' when it was valued, the charge would be based on a Band 'C' property. Anyone living in a property that is already placed in Band 'A', cannot be banded any lower. However, from 1 April 2000 a reduction of one-ninth of the amount payable for a Band 'D' property will be granted.
If you do not already receive this reduction and you think you may qualify, please contact us or fill in the form shown below.
You must continue to pay the council tax on any bill you have already been sent. If you do not pay according to the bill sent to you, we will continue with recovery action. Please see Non-payment of council tax for more information on recovery of unpaid council tax.
If you qualify for disablement relief we will revise your council tax bill and refund any overpaid amounts. We will write to you if your request is not accepted.
How to apply for a reduction
If you would like to apply for disablement relief, you can:
- fill in our on line reduction for disabilities form; or
- download the Disablement relief application form, complete it and return it to us at the address on the form:
Cancel a council tax reduction for disabilities
Please complete the form below to.:
Appeals
If we refuse a discount but you think our decision is wrong, you can appeal. See our Appeals page for more details.
Your responsibilities
You must tell us immediately there is a change of circumstances at your property, as this may affect how much council tax we charge you.
It is a criminal offence to falsely claim this discount and we may take you to court and you could be fined.
If you apply for a discount or reduction, you must continue to pay the council tax on any bill you have already been sent. If you do not pay according to the bill sent to you, we will continue with recovery action. Please see non-payment of council tax for more information on recovery of unpaid council tax
Related websites
GOV.UK council tax discounts website
Contact us
Phone: 020 8274 4904 (Monday to Friday, 10:30am to 5pm)
Email: local.taxation@merton.gov.uk
Local Taxation Section
London Borough of Merton
PO Box No 559
Morden
SM4 5ZY