Council Tax for empty properties
If you own an empty home, you still have to pay Council Tax.
Our Council Tax Empty Homes Policy explains how we apply the empty homes premium.
Empty homes premiums
If your property is unoccupied and unfurnished, you are entitled to a 28 day 100% discount. This discount is on the property itself, and can only be claimed once, even if there is a change in ownership. After the 28 days, the full Council Tax charge is made.
- You do not have to fill a form in to apply for this discount. The discount is applied when you notify us that a property has been left empty and unfurnished
Longer term empty properties
A property that has been unoccupied and unfurnished for:
- a period of 2 to 5 years has to pay a premium of 100% of the Council Tax
- a period of 5 to 10 years has to pay a premium of 200% of the Council Tax
- a period of more than 10 years has to pay a premium of 300% of the Council Tax
These premiums apply even if there have been changes in ownership during those periods.
The empty homes premium is applied to encourage owners of empty properties to bring them back into use. There are things we can do to help you bring an empty property back into use.