Empty and unoccupied properties

Most unoccupied properties attract a full council tax charge, whether furnished or not.  

Premium Charges

Empty properties are those that are unoccupied and substantially unfurnished. 

Empty properties for 2 to 5 years

A property that has been empty for 2 to 5 years will have a 100% premium council tax charge.

The Council Tax payer will have to pay 200% of the Council Tax charge. The council took the decision to have this charge for the whole area under Section 11b of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Local Government Finance Act 2012 and Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018.

Empty properties for 5 years or more

A property that has been empty for 5 years or more will have a 200% premium council tax.

The Council Tax payer will have to pay 300% of the Council Tax charge. The council took this decision to have this charge for the whole area under Section 11b of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Local Government Finance Act 2012 and Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018.

As the premium applies to the property, a change of ownership or tenancy will not affect the premium. If when you purchased or leased your property it had already been empty and unfurnished for two years or more, you will have to pay a 200% Council Tax charge, or if empty and unfurnished for 5 years or more you will have to pay 300%.

The additional charge can only be removed by bringing your property back into use. If you bring your property back into use then notify us of this change, we will need to know your reference number and the date of occupation. We will then arrange for a visit to your property to confirm the information you have provided.

Empty properties for 10 years or more

A property that has been empty for 10 years or more will have a 300% premium council tax from 1st April 2021 onwards.

The Council Tax payer will have to pay 400% of the Council Tax charge. The council took this decision to have this charge for the whole area under Section 11b of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Local Government Finance Act 2012 and Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018.

As the premium applies to the property, a change of ownership or tenancy will not affect the premium. If when you purchased or leased your property it had already been empty and unfurnished for two years or more, you will have to pay a 200% Council Tax charge, or if empty and unfurnished for 10 years or more you will have to pay 400%.

The additional charge can only be removed by bringing your property back into use. If you bring your property back into use then notify us of this change, we will need to know your reference number and the date of occupation. We will then arrange for a visit to your property to confirm the information you have provided

Premium Charge Rates Changes

• From April 2019 onwards to charge a 100% premium (from 50% extra)
• From April 2020 onwards to charge a 200% for properties that have been empty for 5 years or more.
• From April 2021 onwards to increase the premium to 300% for properties that have been empty for more than 10 years. 

Properties requiring/undergoing structural alterations/major repairs

No reduction is given on uninhabitable properties requiring or undergoing structural repairs.

The full Council Tax will be payable and there is no longer be a 50% discount for these properties.

Job related dwelling second homes discount

If a property in our borough is occupied as a requirement of your job, but the property is not your main home, we may be able to give you a 50% discount.

To qualify you must undertake your duties of employment from the property. It is customary for employers in that type of employment to provide accommodation and your contract of employment obligates you to live in that particular dwelling.

Please contact our Council Tax team to discuss your situation.