Skip to main content
Home
FacebookTwitterYouTubeChase Matters
  • Residents
  • Business
  • The Council
  • Visitors
  • A-Z
  • Do it online
  • Benefits
      Housing Benefit
      How is it calculated?
      Changes in Circumstance
      Benefits Online Access
      Benefit / Tenancy Fraud
      Under Occupancy
    Discretionary Payments
    Benefits Appeals
    Help and Advice
    Online Services - Benefits
    Benefits Cap
    Pensionable Age
  • Council Tax
     Council Tax Bands
      How to Pay Council Tax
     Reduce Council Tax
      Contact Us / Area Offices
    e-Billing
    Difficulty Paying
    Who is Liable to Pay C-Tax
    Single Person Discount
  • Environmental Health
      Food Complaints
     Fly Tipping
     Nuisance
     Noise Complaints
      Bonfires & Smoke
     Odour complaints
    Pest Control
    Littering
    Contaminated Land
    Chimney Smoke
    Light Pollution
    Environmental Monitoring
  • Housing
      Finding a New Home
       Rents Payment
      Repairs
      Estate Management
      Self Service
     Homelessness
      Allocations
       Rents
    Landlords
    Harassment and Eviction
    Relationship Breakdowns
    Tenancy Fraud
    Anti-Social Behaviour
    Homeless Application
  • Leisure
      Chase Leisure Centre
      Rugeley Leisure Centre
      Golf
      Museum
      Theatre
      Green Spaces
    Golf
    Parks
    Countryside
    Parking
    Markets
    Eating - Where to Eat
  • Waste & Recycling
      Collection date finder
      Collection Calendars
     Which items in Which Bin
    Report Bin Problem
      Recycling Centres
      Large Items - Collection
    Missed bin
    Damaged Bin
    Lost Bin
    Home Composting
    What happens to my recycling
  • Planning & Building
    PLANNING
      Planning Applications
      Planning Development
      Planning Policy
      Land Search / Charges
    PLANNING
    Comment on an Application
    Planning News
    Building Conservation
    Neighbourhood Planning
    Community Infrastructure Levy
    BUILDING CONTROL
       Charges
      Building Regulations Application
      Building Control
      Exempt Building Works
       Dangerous Structures
  • Other
      Parking
       Library Services
       Bus Passes
      Blue Badges
      Schools & Colleges
     Cemeteries
        Mapping - Online
      Social Alarms
      Jobs
      Safeguarding
      Communications
    Chase Matters Mag.
    Land Search / Charges
    Contact Us
    Campaigns
    Social Services

Council Tax

  • Contact / Visit
  • Council Tax Bands
  • Council Tax Single Person Discount
  • Council Tax e-billing service
  • How can I reduce my Council Tax Bill
  • How to pay your Council Tax
  • My Contact Details
  • Problems Paying your Council Tax
  • Single Person Discount Review
  • Who has to pay Council Tax
  • Council Tax - Billing Downloads
  • Council Tax - Downloads
  1. Home
  2. Residents
  3. Council Tax
  4. How can I reduce my Council Tax Bill

How can I reduce my Council Tax Bill

Discounts and Disregards

The full Council Tax bill assumes that there are 2 adults (aged 18 or over) living in a dwelling. If only one adult lives in the property the council tax bill is reduced by 25%; this is known as Single Persons Discount. You can apply now by downloading the Single Persons Discount application form below.

If there are no adults living in the property and you would like to apply for an exemption you can download an Exempt Dwelling application form below.

In addition to this, there are certain groups of residents who can be disregarded altogether when counting the number of adults in the household. These are:-

  • Prisoners
  • People who are severely mentally impaired
  • 18 & 19 year olds who are still entitled to child benefit
  • Students, apprentices and people on Youth Training Schemes
  • People whose main residence is in hospital
  • People whose main residence is in a Residential Care home and receiving care
  • People living in hostels or night-shelters
  • Carers
  • Members of religious communities (i.e. monks and nuns)
  • School and college leavers
  • Members (and dependants) of Visiting forces or International headquarters

Properties that are unoccupied and unfurnished

Properties that are unoccupied and substantially unfurnished are entitled to a 100% discount for a maximum of 3 months.  After the 3 month period, a full charge will apply.

Properties that have been continuously unoccupied and unfurnished for more than 2 years on or after the 1st April 2013, will pay an additional premium of 50%, therefore paying a 150% charge.

Second Home discount

If you have a second home, including a holiday home, no discount is available and the full charge will be payable.

However, if you are required to occupy either property as part of your contract of employment, you may be able to claim up to 50% reduction for your second home.   

Properties which are unoccupied and are undergoing or require major work or structural repair

Properties that are undergoing major work or structural repair may be entitled to 100% discount for a maximum of 12 months.  After this period, a full charge will apply.   

Annexes

From the 1st April 2014, a 50% reduction is available for people living in annexes provided they are related to the person liable to pay Council tax of the main residence.  A discount is also available for people living in properties with an annexe which is unoccupied as the annexe is being used as part of the main residence.

 

If you need further information on any of the discounts or disregards above, please write to:

Local Taxation and Benefits Section
Cannock Chase District Council
PO Box 28
Civic Centre
Beecroft Road
Cannock
Staffs
WS11 1BG

or alternatively email counciltax@cannockchasedc.gov.uk

Examples

  • For a property occupied by 2 adults there will be a 100% Council Tax charge.
  • For a property occupied by 1 adult there will be 75% Council Tax charge. (25% discount)
  • For a property that is unfurnished and where there are no adults resident there will be a 100% Council Tax charge, after 3 months.  In some circumstances there might be no bill to pay if the property falls into an exemption class.  If the property remains unoccupied and unfurnished after 2 years, a 50% premium will be added to the original charge.
  • For a property occupied by 2 adults, one of whom is disregarded, there will be a bill of 75% of the Council Tax charge. (25% discount)
  • A property occupied by 3 adults, one of whom is disregarded, will attract no discount. There will be 100% Council Tax charge.

Council Tax - Single Person Discount Form

Council Tax - Exempt Dwelling Application Form

Exemptions

Some properties are exempt from Council Tax.

Properties that are lived in by:

  • Full time students
  • Severely mentally impaired people
  • A foreign diplomat who would normally have to pay council tax
  • People who are under 18
  • Members of a visiting force who would normally have to pay Council Tax
  • Elderly or disabled relatives who live in annexes and self contained accommodation

Unoccupied properties which:

  • Are not furnished (time limit of up to 3 months, after which there is a 100% charge rising to 150% charge after 2 years)
  • Are owned by a charity (time limit of up to 6 months, after which there is a 100% charge)
  • Are left empty by patients in hospitals or care homes
  • Are left empty by persons in detention
  • Are left empty by someone who has moved so they can care for someone else
  • Are left empty by a deceased person (time limit for up to 6 months after probate is granted, after which there is a 100% charge)
  • Have been repossessed
  • Are the responsibility of a bankrupt's trustee
  • Are waiting for a minister of religion to move in
  • Are left empty by a student whose term time address is elsewhere
  • Are unfit for habitation (where occupation is prohibited by law)
  • Form part of another property which cannot be let separately
  • Are not furnished and need structural alteration or major repair work to render it habitable (time limit of up to 12 months after which there is a 100% charge)
  • A caravan pitch or houseboat mooring that does not have a caravan or boat on.

If you feel you are entitled to an exemption please apply in writing to:

Local Taxation and Benefits Section
Cannock Chase District Council
PO Box 28
Civic Centre
Beecroft Road
Cannock
Staffs
WS11 1BG.

or

email counciltax@cannockchasedc.gov.uk

 

 

Disabled Reduction

If you, or someone who lives with you, need an additional room, or additional facilities i.e. an extra bathroom or kitchen, or an extra space in your property to meet special needs arising from a disability, you may be entitled to a reduced council tax bill.

Additional Room

This would include a room (not a bathroom, kitchen or toilet) which is used mainly by the person. This could be an extension or extra room used for storing dialysis equipment, wheelchairs etc.

Additional Facilities

A second kitchen, or bathroom for the use of the person.

Space for wheelchair use

If there is sufficient floor space for a disabled resident to use a wheelchair (the wheelchair must be required by the disabled person for day to day living).

Before the reduction can be given the Council will have to decide whether:

  1. There is a resident with a disability who would find it impossible or extremely difficult to live in the dwelling without the extra feature.

  2. His or her health would suffer, because of the nature of the disability, if the extra feature was not available.

If you are entitled to the reduction the Council Tax bill maybe reduced to that of a property in the band immediately below yours. If your home is in Band A your bill will be calculated on 5/9 fraction instead of 6/9

If you wish to apply for a reduction you can download a Reduction for Disablities application form below or contact the Council Tax helpline on (01543 464285).

Alternatively you can email counciltax@cannockchasedc.gov.uk

Or write to us at:

Local Taxation and Benefits Services
Civic Centre
Beecroft Road
Cannock
WS11 1BG

Council Tax - Reduction for Disablities application form

Local Council Tax Reduction

On the 1st April 2013, the national council tax benefit scheme was replaced by the local council tax reduction scheme (LCTRS).

The amount of support you are entitled to will depend on your personal circumstances although anyone of working age with capital in excess of £6000 cannot qualifty.

For more information about the LCTRS scheme please download the document below.

 

Localised Council Tax Support factsheet

Last Updated: 21/10/2015

Cannock Chase District Council

Contact Us

Cannock Chase Council, Civic Centre,
Beecroft Road, Cannock, Staffs WS11 1BG

t 01543 462621
e customerservices@cannockchasedc.gov.uk

Feedback Form

Stay connected

Like our Council Facebook pageSearch for 'Cannock Chase Life'
Follow us on Twitter@CannockChaseDC
Watch the latest Council videosWatch on YouTube
Sign up for Chase MattersSign up for Chase Matters
©2018 Cannock Chase Council | Sitemap
Desktop Mode