A property must be unfurnished to qualify as empty.
If your property is empty, you may get 100% off your Council Tax bill for up to one month. This discount is valid from the date the property becomes empty.
After this time, you'll be required to pay the monthly instalments as shown on your bill.
Situations when you do not need to pay Council Tax
Empty properties may be exempt from paying Council Tax if the property is empty because:
- it is owned by a charity (exempt for up to six months)
- the liable person is in prison or other place of detention, such as a hospital under the Mental Health Act
- the liable person has gone to live in a hospital, nursing or residential care home
- nobody is allowed to live there by law
- it is waiting to be occupied by a minister of religion
- the liable person is receiving care at another address that is not a hospital or care home
- the liable person is caring for someone elsewhere
- it has been repossessed
- the liable person is bankrupt
- it is an empty caravan pitch or boat mooring
- it was last occupied by a student who was the owner
Death of an occupant
The property may also be exempt if the liable person is deceased and probate or letters of administration have not yet been granted.
The exemption applies while waiting for probate or letters of administration to be granted and for up to six months after the grant.
Separate dwellings
Empty properties are exempt from Council Tax if they're:
- separately banded dwellings which form part of another property
- situated within the curtilage of another property and are not allowed to be let separately
For example, an annexe could not be let separately without a breach of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Properties which remain empty for one year and longer
If your property is empty for one year or more, you will be charged additional Council Tax – known as an empty home premium.
Properties which are second homes
If your property is a second home, you will be charged a Council Tax premium.
How to apply
After you've applied
You must still pay the amount on your Council Tax bill until you hear from us.
If you qualify for the discount or an exemption, we’ll check every year that you're still entitled to it.
Backdating your discount
We usually will not backdate a discount because it is almost impossible to verify. We might consider it if you provide strong evidence and our internal checks support the claim.
If your circumstances change
Use our enquiry form to:
- tell us if your circumstances change in the meantime as this may affect your discount
- cancel your discount