We are pleased to advise you that we have started to launch parts of our new website including the homepage. Whilst this happens you will notice content appears from both new and old websites.There are several ways we can help to reduce your Council Tax bill.
How to apply
Please click the headings below to see further information on ways to apply for your specific discount or exemption.
Long Term Empty Premium
From 1st April 2019 the Local Government Finance Act 2012 gave local authorities the power to increase the Council Tax by way of a premium to encourage owners to bring empty properties back into use.
Empty homes are not just a problem in Tendring, but nationally and are a wasted resource. Given the acute need for housing, it is vital that every effort is made to bring such properties back into use at the earliest opportunity.
The changes proposed will therefore also bring us into line with many other local authorities, especially those across Essex where the ‘premium’ is already being charged. Tendring District Council approved the following taking effect from 1st April 2022 Premium Rate | Properties effected | Date From |
|---|---|---|
100% (on top of what you normally pay) | Properties empty for 2 -5 years | 1st April 2022 |
200% (on top of what you normally pay) | Properties empty for 5 -10 years | 1st April 2022 |
300% (on top of what you normally pay) | Properties empty for 10 years and over | 1st April 2022 |
The Empty Homes Premium will be added to any property which has remained empty and unfurnished for longer than two years; regardless of how long the current owner has had the property. Change of ownership or liability does not affect the premium charged and no account shall be taken for any one or more periods of less than 6 weeks during which the property is not empty. The Empty homes premium will not apply if:
- The property is the main residence of a member of the armed forces absent as a result of such service
- The property forms part of a single property (i.e. an annex) which is being treated as a part of the main dwelling by a resident of that property
- The property is on the market for sale or rent.
If your bill shows a long-term empty premium and you think that your property is in one of these categories, please contact us straight away.
How do I to end the premium charge?
- To end the premium charge, you must bring the property back into use.
To notify the Council that you have done this please complete the online enquiry form for on our 'Contact Council Tax' webpage.
Local Council Tax Support
Local Council Tax Support is a reduction of your council tax bill based on:
- Your income
- The size of your family
- Other adults who live with you
- The amount of Council Tax you have to pay
In general, the lower your income the more the bill can be reduced by Local Council Tax Support. From 1st April 2015 everyone of working age will have to pay at least 20% of their bill.
Other adults (non-dependants) who live with you may be expected to help you pay the Council Tax. This means you may get less help from Local Council Tax Support.
The rules for Local Council Tax Support are different depending on whether you are:
- Working age
- Pension age
For more information about Local Council Tax support please visit the help to pay your council tax page.
To apply for Local Council Tax Support please use our online form.
Care Leaver Discretionary Reduction
Tendring District Council will award a discretionary reduction (under Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended) to the Council Tax account of a young person leaving care to live alone, or to the Council Tax account of the household a young person joins after leaving care.
Eligibility for a care leaver discretionary reduction
A discretionary reduction to the Council Tax can be made to a young person who is leaving care, aged under 21 and...
- who has been looked after by Essex County Council for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14; and who was looked after by the local authority at school-leaving age or after that date
- or, who is entitled to 'leaving care support' from Essex County Council (ECC).
Entitlement to 'leaving care support' - The Children Act 1989 defines the categories of children entitled to leaving care support as:
- 'Eligible children' - those young people aged 16-17 who are still in care and have been 'looked after' for a total of 13 weeks from the age of 14 and including their 16th birthday
- 'Relevant children' - those young people aged 16 and 17 who have already left care, and who were 'looked after' for at least 13 weeks from the age of 14 and have been: 'looked after' at some time while they were 16 or 17
- 'Former relevant children' - those young people aged 18, 19 or 20 who have been eligible and/or relevant.
Applications for a care leaver discretionary reduction
Important: Before a care leaver discretionary reduction can be awarded, applicants must take steps to reduce their council tax bill by claiming any other discounts, exemptions and council tax reductions to which they may also be entitled.
After entitlement to all other discounts, exemptions and council tax reductions has been claimed, Tendring District Council will reduce the Council Tax liability of a young person leaving care to live alone, or of the household a young person joins after leaving care, to be the same as it would be if the care leaver was a 'disregarded person' (such as a student).
How to apply
Applications should be made to Essex County Council personal advisors for care leavers.
For further information visit: Essex County Council - Leaving care.
Single Person Discount
A full Council Tax bill is based on at least two adults living in your home. You will get 25% off your bill if you live alone.
Please complete the form below to apply.
Online Form to apply for a Single Person's Discount
Sometimes we will need to conduct further enquiries to check you qualify for the discount. We will get in touch if we need any further information from you.
Other Discounts
A full Council Tax bill is based on at least two adults living in your home. You will get 25% of your bill if you live alone, or you are the only person living in the property who is counted for Council Tax purposes.
These people are not counted for Council Tax:
- Children under 18
- People on some apprentice schemes
- 18 and 19 year olds in full-time education
- Full-time college and university students
- Young people under 25 who get funding from the skills funding agency or young people's learning agency
- Student nurses
- Foreign language assistants registered with the British Council
- People with a severe mental disability
- Live-in carers who look after someone who isn't their partner, spouse or child
- Diplomats
- Members of International Headquarters and Defence Organisations
- Members of religious communities
- People in detention/prison
To apply for one of these discounts, please use our enquiry form.
Empty Properties/Second Homes
There is usually a full charge for unoccupied properties, whether they are furnished or unfurnished. Some unoccupied properties can receive an exemption. Details about these exemptions are below.
Full-time Students
If every member of your household is a full-time student, you can apply for a Council Tax exemption.
If only some of the members of your household are full-time students, you may still qualify for a discount. Please see the section - Other Discounts.
If you believe you qualify for a Student Exemption or Discount please complete this form Student Discount Form
To count as a full-time student, your course must:
- Last at least 1 year
- Involve at least 21 hours study per week
If you are studying for a qualification up to A-level and you're under 20, your course must:
- Last at least 3 months
- Involve at least 12 hours study per week
People with Disabilities
The disabled Band Reduction scheme makes sure disabled people don't pay more Council Tax if they need a bigger property, or have adapted their home because of their disability. Your bill can be reduced by treating the dwelling as if it was in the band immediately below its actual band.
The property must be the main home of at least one person who is 'substantially and permanently' disabled. They can be an adult or a child and don't have to be responsible for paying the Council Tax. A physical disability, learning difficulties or mental health issues can all be qualifying conditions.
To qualify, the property must have:
- A room which is mainly used by the disabled resident and is essential, or a major importance to their welfare; or
- An extra bathroom or extra kitchen which is necessary to meet the needs of the disabled resident; or
- Enough floor space to use a wheelchair. The disabled resident must need to use the wheelchair indoors.
Part of the application form will need to be completed by the disabled person's doctor and a Council Tax inspector will need to visit the property to view the special facilities in place.
To apply for this discount, please use our enquiry form.
Care Home Residents
If every member of your household has gone to live in a care home, you can apply for a Council Tax exemption.
If only some members of your household are now care home residents, you may still qualify for a discount. Please see the section - Other Discounts.
To apply for this discount or exemption, please use our enquiry form.
Repairs Or Alterations
Class D Discount
A property may receive 100% discount for up to 12 months if it requires or is undergoing major repair works, or is undergoing structural alterations.
In the case of repairs, a further 6 month discount can be granted after the works are completed, as long as the total duration of both discounts does not exceed 12 months and the property remains unfurnished and unoccupied.
Please note that it is the property, not the owner, which is entitled to a 12 month discount. If you purchase a property for which a discount has already been granted, you will be entitled to the remainder of the 12 month period.
Major repair works
These are repairs that are essential and have some significance to the property as a whole. For example: replacing a roof, or major and extensive damp treatments to the internal/external walls.
Structural alterations
These affect the main structure of the property. For example: moving of walls (not repairing), or stripping of lath and plaster off ceilings and walls.
In all cases the extent of work required would mean any occupants would have to vacate the property and remove their furniture in order to undertake the work. Replacing kitchens, bathrooms, windows, heating system and the like are generally carried out whilst properties are occupied and therefore would not be deemed to be major works.
Use the link below to make your application. Please upload any relevant documents that will support your request, eg photos of work in progress, structural/damp surveys, receipts and invoices. Each application will be looked at on an individual basis and may require an internal inspection by one of our inspectors.
Exemptions For Unoccupied Properties
B) unoccupied dwellings owned by charities - up to 6 months only
D) unoccupied because taxpayer is in prison
E) unoccupied because taxpayer has moved to a care home or hospital
F) unoccupied when the owner has died and the property has to be sold to clear the debts of the estate or the deceased did not leave a will. The exemption can apply for up to 6 months after probate or letters of administration have been granted.
G) Occupation is prohibited by law
H) Empty dwelling being held for a Minister of Religion
I) unoccupied by person receiving care
J) Unoccupied by a person providing care elsewhere
K) unoccupied by students
L) repossessed properties
Q) property left empty by a bankrupt
R) unoccupied caravan pitches and boat moorings
T) unoccupied annexes or properties situated within the curtilage of another dwelling
To apply for an exemption, please use our enquiry form.
Exemptions For Occupied Properties
M) college/university halls of residence
N) property solely occupied by full time students
O) armed forces accommodation
P) visiting forces accommodation
S) All occupants are aged under 18
U) property occupied solely by those who are severely mentally impaired
V) diplomat's property
W) annex occupied by a dependant relative
To apply for an exemption, please use our enquiry form.
Job Related Discount
A 50% discount is available to the owner of a furnished property, when they are required to live elsewhere by their contract of employment (e.g caretakers). They must be liable for Council Tax at both properties to be eligible for the discount.
To apply for this discount, please use our enquiry form.
Mobile Home Discount
Unoccupied mobile homes or caravans may be eligible for a 50% discount.
To apply for this discount, please use our enquiry form.
Reductions For Annexes
A 50% reduction in Council Tax applies for people living in annexes provided they are related to the person liable to pay the Council Tax on the main dwelling. Unless they are already exempt under class W (dependant relative) or Class T (Unoccupied and cannot be let separately from the main dwelling.)
The reduction also applies for people living in dwellings with annexes which are unoccupied provided they are using the annexe as part of their main residence.
To apply for this discount, please use our enquiry form.