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  1. 1. Housing assistance and public funds
  2. 2. Eligibility for homelessness assistance
  3. 3. Key housing duties
  4. 4. Ineligible persons
  5. 5. Local Connection
  6. 6. Mixed households in homelessness applications
  7. 7. Social housing allocation
  8. 8. Housing association tenancies
  9. 9. Duty to refer
  10. 10. Right to rent checks
  11. 11. Council tax
  12. 12. Disabled Facilities Grant

Council tax

A person who owns or rents their home will usually be required to pay council tax to the local authority.

Council tax discounts and exemptions

Some people in a household are disregarded for council tax purposes. Where this applies, a discount may be applied to the council tax bill. For example, a 25% discount will apply where:

  • a person lives alone, or
  • all other household members are disregarded

In some cases, a household may be exempt from council tax. For example, where all members of a household are full time students, no council tax may be payable.

Council tax discounts and exemptions are not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. A person with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) may access these where the criteria are met.

Further information about who discounts and exemptions is available on GOV.UK.

Council tax support (council tax reduction)

Council tax support (also known as council tax reduction) is a public fund for immigration purposes. A person with NRPF is therefore not eligible to claim this.

Page updated: 03 June 2026

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