Single person discount
The single person discount takes 25% off your Council Tax bill when you are the only adult counted as living in your home.
The single person discount is a 25% reduction in Council Tax when only one adult counts as living in a home. A full bill assumes at least 2 adults. According to GOV.UK (updated 5 February 2025), you get 25% off if you pay Council Tax and either live on your own or everyone else in the home is disregarded, for example children under 18, full-time students and people on certain apprentice schemes. The discount comes from section 11 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
The discount is not means-tested, so your income and savings do not matter. You must apply to your council, and you must tell the council if another adult moves in. GOV.UK says a discount received by mistake can lead to a fine and a demand to pay it back.
Example: if your 2026/27 bill is £2,000, the single person discount takes off £500 and you pay £1,500. If your income is also low, you can apply separately for Council Tax Reduction, which is means-tested.
Check your band and bill with the Council Tax calculator, see how Council Tax bands work, and read every Council Tax discount and who gets it.