Disregards and exemptions

• Full-time students, student nurses, apprentices and Youth Training trainees
• Patients resident in hospital
• People who are being looked after in care homes
• People who are severely mentally impaired
• People staying in certain hostels or night shelters
• 18 and 19 year olds who have just left school
• Care-workers working for low pay, usually for charities
• People caring for someone with a disability who is not a spouse, partner or child under 18
• Members of visiting forces and certain international institutions
• Members of religious communities
• People in prison (except those in prison for non-payment of Council Tax or a fine)
• People with diplomatic privileges or immunities

These exemptions apply indefinitely to occupied properties:

Class M - Halls of residence provided mainly for the accommodation of students
Class N - Dwellings occupied entirely by full-time students (Please supply a student certificate from the relevant place of study confirming it is a full-time course with the number of hours and the course dates)
Class O - Armed forces accommodation
Class P - Dwellings where a member of a visiting force would otherwise be liable to pay
Class S - Dwellings occupied only by people under the age of 18
Class U - Properties which are occupied entirely by severely mentally impaired people
Class V - The main residence of someone with diplomatic privilege or immunity
Class W - An annexe occupied by an aged and/or disabled dependent relative of someone who is resident in the main dwelling

These exemptions apply indefinitely to unoccupied properties:

Class D - Unoccupied property where the former occupant is in prison (except for non payment of a fine or the Council Tax)
Class E - Unoccupied property where the former occupant is now permanently in a care home or hospital
Class G - Dwellings whose occupation is forbidden by law
Class H - Unoccupied property awaiting occupation by a working minister of religion
Class I - Unoccupied property where the former occupant has moved in order to receive personal care
Class J - Dwellings left unoccupied by the former occupant who has moved to provide personal care
Class K - Dwellings where the owner is a student who last lived in the dwelling as their main home
Class L - Dwellings which have been taken into possession by a mortgage lender
Class Q - Dwellings where the liable person is a trustee in bankruptcy
Class R - Pitch or mooring not occupied by a caravan or boat
Class T - Annexes which cannot be let separately from the main dwelling due to planning conditions

These exemptions apply for a limited period only:

Class B - An unoccupied property owned by a charity, which has been unoccupied for less than 6 months and it was last occupied in accordance with the objects of the charity

Class F - Unoccupied property where the former occupant has died and where the personal representatives are awaiting probate or letters of administration, or where less than 6 months have passed since probate or letters of administration have been granted. Please note that this exemption ceases if the property becomes occupied by another person, or it is transferred to a beneficiary or it is sold.