Why have I received this letter/email?

The council is currently reviewing the circumstances of all people who are claiming the single occupancy discount. We are simply verifying that your eligibility to the single occupancy discount continues. 

How do I respond to the review?

The easiest way to reply to the review is by using the text messaging or online services. Please refer to your letter for instructions on how to do this using your 6-digit unique code. 

What happens if I don’t respond to the review? 

We will assume that your situation has changed, and we’ll remove your discount. You will receive a new Council Tax bill.

What happens if the form is completed after the 14-day deadline given? 

If the form is not returned within 14 days, you will receive a reminder letter. If you fail to answer the reminder letter, we will assume your situation has changed and will remove your discount. You’ll receive a new Council Tax bill.

I’ve already responded but I have received a reminder

If you sent your response within the last few days, it is very likely that it was received after the reminder was issued, therefore there is no need to respond again. If you sent your response over a week ago, there is a chance this may not have been received and you may wish to try again.

If you have responded by text message, it is important to check that you followed the instructions correctly to ensure your response is received. If you have not received a ‘Thank you’ message, then your response may not have been recorded so please follow the instructions on your reminder letter again.

I want to complete the paper form but need some help

If you are the only adult living at the property, please tick the box on the right at the top of your form. Proceed to complete Sections B, C and D if these are applicable to you. 

If you are no longer the only adult living at the property, please tick the box on the left at the top of your form and provide details of the additional person(s) in section A.

Sign, print your name and date the form and return it to the address provided at bottom of your letter. Please note any letters sent without sufficient postage will NOT be received and your discount may be removed as a result.

Why am I being asked to return the form to a Nottingham address? 

The address provided on your letter is a secure local government scanning facility based in Nottingham who provide services to many local authorities. 

What should I do if someone is using my address for correspondence only or I receive mail for previous occupants?

This will not affect your eligibility for single occupancy discount if you are still the only adult living at the property. We recommend you return any unexpected mail not addressed to yourself, back to the sender. If you have allowed somebody to use your address for mail, but they do not live with you, please respond using the paper form, and complete section B.

A friend/relative stays with me a few nights a week, does this mean that I am no longer eligible? 

If your friend or relative keeps their belongings at your house, then your address will be classed as their main residence. Therefore, you would no longer be eligible for single occupancy discount and will need to declare them as living with you during the review. If they pay council tax elsewhere and keep their belongings at that address, then you would not need to declare them, although, if they have any mail delivered to your address you should include this information when completing your review.

I have already informed the Council of a change in circumstances. Do I need to complete the form? 

Yes. Please include all the details of your current situation. 

I currently live alone but somebody is moving in soon, how should I respond to the review?

If the person is moving in soon then you can complete the review advising of their move in date, this will ensure your account is updated correctly when they do move in. If they not moving in for some time or the date is unknown, then please complete the review declaring that you remain the sole adult occupier. When they do move in, you will then need to inform the Council of the date and their name.

How can I find out if an additional occupant is classed as disregarded for Council Tax?

You can find additional information about disregarded occupants who are not eligible to pay council tax by visiting our discounts and exemptions page.

Why have I received a text message after I have completed the form?

To make sure that everyone is paying the right amount of tax, we occasionally carry out further checks to verify your validity to claim single occupancy discount after we’ve received your response. To prevent your discount from being removed, please follow the links included in the second text message and complete the further form online.

How do I know the text messages are from the Council?

Any text messages sent from the Council regarding the single person discount review will come from ‘LBBD’ and will follow on from the ‘Thank you’ text received once you complete your declaration. You will also only be able to log in with your Council Tax account number and post code. 

What happens if I receive a second text message, and I don’t complete the form?

We will assume your situation has changed and we’ll remove your discount. You will receive a new Council Tax bill.

What should I do if my circumstances are not covered in the examples above?

If you are still not sure how to complete the form, or your circumstances are not covered, please use the online form, and select 'Other' (My circumstances are not covered by the categories above) to write an explanation of your current situation.

Alternatively, please return the paper form to the address at the bottom of your letter, with a covering letter explaining of your current situation. 

What credit information do you hold on me?

We do not hold any credit information on you. If you want to see your credit file, please contact any of the major credit reference agencies:

• Transunion 
• Equifax
• Experian