The only adult living in a rented home? A 25% discount on the council tax bill may be yours. Here is who qualifies. Here is how to apply, and what happens
On this page
- What is the single person discount?
- Who counts as an adult for council tax?
- Who pays council tax in a rented home?
- How do I apply for the single person discount?
- What if I am the only adult but my landlord lives there too?
- Can I get council tax support as well?
- Does this affect my disrepair rights?
- When should I contact Support for Tenants?
- Sources
The only adult living in a rented home? A 25% discount on the council tax bill may be yours. Here is who qualifies. Here is how to apply, and what happens when the household changes.
What is the single person discount?
Council tax assumes two or more adults live in a home. Only one adult living there brings a 25% discount on the full bill.
Some cases get the discount automatically. Usually you must apply.
Who counts as an adult for council tax?
All adults, 18 and over, living in the home normally count. But some people get "disregarded" for council tax. They live there, yet stay uncounted. They include:
- Full-time students
- Student nurses
- Apprentices, in set circumstances
- People with severe mental impairment
- Certain live-in carers, caring for the person they live with
- People under 25 on set training or education programmes
Living with someone disregarded? The single person discount may still be yours, even with another adult in the home.
Who pays council tax in a rented home?
In most private tenancies, the tenant pays council tax. The tenancy agreement should confirm it. A bills-included rental may work differently. Check your agreement.
How do I apply for the single person discount?
Contact the council and ask to apply. You usually confirm:
- That you are the sole adult resident
- Your name and address
- Proof that others left, where you used to share
Councils check discounts from time to time. Changed circumstances must be reported. Someone moving in counts.
What if I am the only adult but my landlord lives there too?
A landlord living in the home with you counts as an adult resident too. The single person discount then falls away.
Can I get council tax support as well?
Yes. The single person discount and council tax support run separate. A low income may bring council tax support cutting the bill further. Apply to the council for it.
Does this affect my disrepair rights?
No. How you pay council tax, discount or not, touches none of your legal rights as a tenant.
When should I contact Support for Tenants?
We help tenants with housing disrepair claims in every kind of rented home. A home in poor condition? Call us.
Call us on 0800 030 4669. No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing.
Sources
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 15 June 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only, not a promise; every case is different.
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