Deceased discount or exemption

It is important that you inform us when someone has passed away. We will need to know about a death in a household so we can update the Council Tax account.

If someone has unfortunately passed away you can tell us quickly and easily online by applying for deceased discount.

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Surviving household member

If you are a surviving partner and you confirm in writing that you are now the only adult in the household, we will give you a single person discount.

It is important that we are advised when the following has happened:

• When probate is granted
• If the property is sold
• If someone moves in
• If someone inherits the property
• When the tenancy ends

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Empty property

If the property is empty, an exemption is awarded regardless of whether it is furnished or not. The exemption will continue until either:

• The tenancy ends (we consider the tenancy to have ended once the keys are handed back to the landlord)
• Probate is granted

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After probate

From the date of probate:

• If the property has been transferred to beneficiaries they will become liable to pay the Council Tax, and a new account will be set up in their name
• If the property remains unoccupied and in the hands of the executors the exemption can continue for a further six months. Once this period has ended the full Council Tax will then become payable and a bill will be issued to the executors. An executor can claim a further one month discount once the furniture is removed
• If the property remains unoccupied and unfurnished for a period of two years the full charge plus 100 per cent will become payable. Find out more about empty properties