Discounts
Your Council Tax bill is based on 2 adults living in the property. If only 1 adult lives in the property (as their main home) the bill will be reduced by 25 per cent. FInd out more about single person discount.
Certain people can be disregarded when calculating the number of adults living in a residence. You can check who is entitled to this discount by accessing further information regarding council tax discount and disregards.
People in the following groups do not count towards the number of adults living in your property -
- full-time students
- student nurses -
- apprentices
- youth trainees
- patients permanently in hospital
- people who are being looked after permanently in care homes
- people who are severely mentally impaired
- people staying in certain hostels or night shelters
- 18 and 19-year-olds who are at or have just left school -. those persons in respect of whom children benefit is paid
- care workers working for low pay, usually for charities
- people caring for someone with a disability who is not -
- a spouse
- partner
- child under 18
- members of religious communities
- people in prison except those in prison for non-payment of council tax or a fine
- diplomats or people who benefit from diplomatic privileges and Immunities
Each category has specific qualifying criteria and we will give further advice should you wish to make a discount claim.
Discretionary discounts
Discretionary discounts may also be considered under section 13A (1) (C) of the 1992 Local Government Finance Act.
At present a discretionary discount is available for volunteer reserve forces members who are single occupiers and mobilised for 28 days or more. A further discretionary discount is available to Special Constables who are liable to pay Council Tax.
The Council introduced a discretionary discount for Care Leavers aged from 18 to 24 years of age from 1 April 2018.
Locally Defined Discounts
At the Full Council meeting on 27 February 2020, Hull City Council agreed that the following policies concerning empty properties would take effect from 1 April 2020 -
- no Council Tax discount on second homes
- no discount on all dwellings undergoing structural alterations or major repairs work (formally statutory exemption Class A)
- no discount on empty/unfurnished dwellings.
If your property has been empty and substantially unfurnished for 2 years or more you will be required to pay an empty home premium on top of the full Council Tax charge for your property.
For properties empty for 2 years or more the premium is 100 per cent of the full Council Tax charge and for properties empty for 5 years to 9 years the premium is 200 per cent. For those empty for 10 years or more the premium is 300 per cent.
Where a property subject to the empty premium is bought by a new owner, who is renovating it to bring it back into use, the Council can at its discretion remove the premium for up to 12 months.
People with disabilities
If anyone living in your home is disabled you may qualify for a reduction in Council Tax. Your home must have 1 or more of the following -
- a room mainly used by, and required for meeting the needs of the disabled person. For example, a room for dialysis equipment
- a second bathroom to include a toilet, washroom or bath and shower
- or kitchen required for meeting the needs of the disabled person
- enough floor space for a wheelchair to be used by the disabled person
If you are entitled to a reduction your Council Tax bill will be reduced to the band below the band your property is in. For example, a band C property will be changed to band B. If your home is in band A, your bill will be reduced by the equivalent of band B to band A reduction.