Check if you need to pay Council Tax

Who needs to pay

If you're 18 or over and live in a home you own or rent you will need to pay Council Tax, unless:

• the owner also lives in the property
• you and others living in the property have separate tenancy agreements
• you are exempt from paying

You could face court action and have to pay costs if you do not pay your Council Tax instalments on time.

If your property is shared with other people

If the property is shared with other people who have separate tenancy agreements to live in the property, the property may be considered to be a house in multiple occupation. This means the landlord or owner will be responsible for paying the Council Tax and not the tenants.

If you have a joint tenancy agreement that names you and all the other persons living in the property, you will all be responsible for paying the Council Tax.

If more than one person is responsible to pay the Council Tax bill

If there is more than one person responsible for paying the Council Tax, we can legally recover the full amount of money owed from any of the individuals.

Adding someone to your Council Tax bill

If you wish to add someone to your Council Tax bill, such as a partner, please contact our Council Tax team.

If no one is living at the property

Usually, the landlord or owner is responsible for the Council Tax if no one is living at the property.

For more information, read our section on empty properties.

Exemptions

There are various circumstances whereby you do not have to pay Council Tax.

Exemptions relating to your personal circumstances

You do not need to pay Council Tax if you are:

• under 18
• severely mentally impaired
• in prison or detention – except for non-payment of local tax or fines
• a school or college leaver
• a full-time student
• a student nurse
• an apprentice or youth training trainee
• receiving care in a registered care home
• a resident of a hostel
• a member of a religious community who is dependant on the community and has no personal income
• a non-British spouse of a full time student whose visa restricts work or claiming benefits
• 18 or 19 years old and receiving child benefit
• a long-term hospital patient
• receiving or giving care elsewhere
• a member or dependant of an international headquarters or a defence organisation
• a member or dependent of visiting forces
• someone with diplomatic privilege or immunity
• a care worker
• a carers (unpaid carers subject to certain conditions)

Exemptions relating to the property

You may not need to pay Council Tax if the property is:

• armed forces accommodation owned by the Secretary of State for Defence
• waiting to be occupied by a minister of religion
• an unoccupied annexe (a self-contained unit that forms part of a larger property and cannot be let separately from the main property because of planning restrictions)
• an annexe occupied by a dependent relative (a dependant is defined as over 65, or under 65 and severely mentally impaired or disabled)
• an empty caravan pitch or houseboat mooring
• occupation of the property is prohibited by law
• in the hands of an executor or administrator of the estate of a deceased person (either probate has yet to be granted or it is less than 6 months since probate was granted)
• repossessed by the mortgage lender
• owned by a charity and has been empty for less than 6 months
• left empty by a student
• an empty property in hands of a trustee in bankruptcy

Apply for exemption

If you think you may be entitled to an exemption but it is not showing on your bill, contact us.

If you do receive an exemption but your circumstances change, you must tell us immediately as this may affect your entitlement. If you do not inform us of any changes you may have to pay a penalty.