Council Tax Long-Term Empty Premium Charge

An additional amount of council tax (a premium) is charged when a property has been empty for two years or more. As of 1 April 2019, the premium is set at 100%.

This means you will be charged an additional 100% on your council tax for any properties you own that have been empty and unfurnished for two years or more.

This premium applies to the property. A change of ownership or tenancy will not affect the premium.

If you buy a property that has been empty and unfurnished for two or more years you will still have to pay 200% council tax. The premium will be removed if the property becomes furnished and someone moves in.

If the premium affects you we will write to you and send you a new council tax bill.

There are two types of property that are not affected by the premium:

property which is left empty by a member of the armed services, who is away as a result of their service;
only part of a building which forms a single property is empty, for example, an annexe.

If your bill shows a long-term empty premium and you think that your property is in one of these categories please contact us straight away.