Discounts aren't given automatically, we may ask you for proof or inspect your home. You still need to pay your council tax whilst applying for a discount but if you're entitled to a discount we'll give you a refund. Submit a general enquiry below if you want to appeal a decision or cancel a discount you're receiving. If you want to appeal a decision about a discount you've been given please put this in writing and send it to Revenues and Benefits, Plymouth City Council, PO Box 293, Plymouth PL5 9BZ.
Council Tax Support
Council Tax Support is a local means tested scheme for people on low incomes to help them pay their council tax. Any owner-occupier or tenant aged 18 or over who is legally responsible for the council tax can claim Council Tax Support.
Visit our Council Tax Support page for further information.
Exemptions
There may be a period where you don't pay council tax on the following properties:
- Halls of residence if they're occupied by students and owned or managed by an educational establishment
- Homes occupied entirely by full time students
- >Home owned by the Ministry of Defence or UK armed forces
- Home occupied by visiting forces
- Home occupied by people under the age of 18
- Home occupied by a severely mentally impaired person
- Home occupied by a non-British diplomat
- An annex occupied by a dependant relative if it's self-contained, forms part of another home and is occupied by a relative who is over 65-years old, disabled or severely mentally impaired
- Homes left empty by a prisoner and no-one else lives in it
- Homes left empty by a patient living in a hospital, nursing home or care home and they have no plans to move back
- Homes left empty by a person who's died: exempt for as long as it remains unoccupied and until probate is granted, and for up to six months after that date as long as the property remains unoccupied and has not been sold or transferred to someone else.
- Occupation prohibited by law
- Empty homes which are used by a minister of religion
- Homes left empty by a person receiving care and no-one else lives in it
- Homes left empty by a person providing care and no one else lives in it
- Homes left empty by a student
- Repossessed homes
- Homes left empty by a bankrupt
- Empty caravan pitches or moorings (for as long as the pitch or mooring is empty)
- Empty annexes that can't be let separately because it's part of the main home or because of planning restriction (often applies to granny flats)
- Empty homes owned by a charity (for up to six months from the date it was last occupied by the charity)
- Halls of residence if they're occupied by students and owned or managed by an educational establishment
- Homes occupied entirely by full time students
- >Home owned by the Ministry of Defence or UK armed forces
- Home occupied by visiting forces
- Home occupied by people under the age of 18
- Home occupied by a severely mentally impaired person
- Home occupied by a non-British diplomat
- An annex occupied by a dependant relative if it's self-contained, forms part of another home and is occupied by a relative who is over 65-years old, disabled or severely mentally impaired
Empty homes
We'll make the following charges if the property stays empty:
- No charge for up to one month, the property must be occupied for a period of six weeks before this discount can be applied again. after one month, full charge
- After two years, full charge plus 100 per cent (200% bill)
- After five years, full charge plus 200 per cent (300% bill)
- Empty and furnished full charge from the date the property became empty
- No discount other than one month empty and unfurnished discount (if applicable)
See our empty homes page for information and advice.