Yes — East Lothian lists a range of Council Tax discounts and exemptions, plus business rates reliefs for eligible properties. The main ones are below.
| Type | What applies | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | You may be eligible for a discount if you are working as an apprentice. | Apply for an apprentice discount |
| Care leaver | If you are a care leaver and live on your own or with other care leavers, you will not have to pay Council Tax. | Apply for a care leavers reduction |
| Carer | A person may be disregarded if they provide care for at least 35 hours a week. | Apply for a carer reduction |
| Providing or receiving care | A reduction may be awarded if someone leaves their home to provide or receive care. | Apply for a providing or receiving care reduction |
| Deceased | A discount may be awarded if you are the sole occupant and over 18; a full exemption may apply in some deceased-estate cases. | Apply for a deceased exemption |
| Disabled person reduction | A reduction may be awarded if you or someone living with you is permanently disabled. | Apply for a disabled person reduction |
| Empty property | You may be eligible for a reduction if your property is empty. | Apply for an empty property reduction |
| Low income or out of work | You may be eligible if you’re on a low income or out of work and have savings below £16,000. | Apply for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme |
| Major structural repairs | An uninhabitable property being structurally repaired, improved or reconstructed may get an exemption for up to 52 weeks. | Apply for a major structural repair reduction |
| Prison or detention | A discount or full exemption may apply if the liable person or another household member is detained in prison, hospital or another place by court order. | Apply for a person in detention or prison reduction |
| Severely mentally impaired | A person with a severe mental impairment may qualify for an exemption or be disregarded for another person’s discount. | Find out more or apply for a severely mentally impaired reduction |
| Single person discount | If you are over 18 and the only person living in the property, you can get a 25% discount. | Apply for a single person discount |
| Student | Full-time students may be eligible for a reduction. | Apply for a student discount |
| Type | What applies | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business Bonus Scheme | Relief tapers from 100% to 25% for rateable values between £12,001 and £15k, and from 25% to 0% between £15,001 and £20k. The total value of premises must not exceed £35k, and some property types are excluded. | Apply for Small Business Bonus Scheme |
| Small Business Transitional Relief | Helps properties that lost SBBS eligibility after the 2026 revaluation. | Business Rates team |
| Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief | A 15% relief is available in 2026/27, capped at £110,000 per year per ratepayer. | Apply for Retail Hospitality and Leisure Relief |
| Licenced Premises and Music Venue Relief | A 40% relief is available in 2026/27, capped at £110,000 per year per ratepayer. | Apply for Licenced Premises and Music Venue Relief |
| Empty property relief | Empty properties may get 50% relief for the first three months, then 10%. | Apply for empty property relief |
| Charities, sports clubs and recreation clubs | Relief of up to 80%, with possible discretionary award up to 100%. | Apply for charitable relief |
| Rural rates relief | May apply in eligible rural areas, depending on property type and rateable value. | Contact the Business Rates team |
| Business Growth Accelerator relief | May apply to new build properties or where a property’s rateable value increased after expansion/improvement. | Apply for Business Growth Accelerator relief |
If you want the shortest answer: yes, East Lothian offers several Council Tax discounts/exemptions, including single person, student, care leaver, disability, empty property, and low income support, plus a number of Business Rates relief schemes.