Council Tax premiums and exceptions

A premium is when you pay more Council Tax on top of your standard Council Tax bill.

We charge a premium for:

Empty home premium

A home is considered empty if it is unoccupied and unfurnished.

You will pay a premium depending on how long the property has been empty:

For example, if your property has been empty for 2 years and your yearly Council Tax is £1,500 it will increase to £3,000.

From 1 April 2025, you will not have to pay a premium for:

a property that is for sale or let (for up to 12 months from the date the property was first advertised)
annexes used as part of the main home
unoccupied properties which fell within exempt Class F where probate has recently been granted (maximum of 12 months from the date probate or letters of administration are granted)
empty properties needing or undergoing major repairs or structural alterations (for up to 12 months from the date the property became in need of repair)
a property that would be your main home if you were not living in armed forces accommodation.

We charge a premium for properties that are furnished but no one lives there. We call these second homes.

From 1 April 2025, you’ll pay an extra 100% of your Council Tax on second homes.

For example, if you have a second home and your yearly Council Tax is £2,000 it will increase to £4,000.

You do not have to pay a premium charge for some second home properties. These are:

a property that is for sale or to let (for up to 12 months only)
annexes used as part of the main home
unoccupied properties which fell within the exempt Class F where probate has recently been granted (maximum of 12 months from the date probate or letters of administration are granted)
a pitch with a caravan
a mooring with a boat
a seasonal home that you cannot live in all year round
job related properties
a property that would be your main home if you were not living in armed forces accommodation.