Empty homes

Properties that are empty and unfurnished are entitled to apply for an exemption for 30 days from the date the property first becomes empty, the property needs to be occupied for at least 6 weeks in order to reapply.

Empty Homes Scheme: 

Empty Homes Council Tax Premium 

If your property has been empty and unfurnished for two years or more, you are required to pay an empty home premium on top of the full Council Tax charge for your property.

Previously long-term empty properties paid a 50% premium making a total charge of 150%   

From 1 April 2022 the following changes to the Council Tax premium will take effect.

• properties empty between 2 and 5 years 200% Council Tax will become payable
• properties empty between 5 and 10 years 300% Council Tax will become payable
• properties empty over 10 years 400% Council Tax will become payable 

How am I charged extra when I am not using my property?    

The empty homes premium is intended as an incentive to landlord(s) and owner(s) to get their properties occupied as soon as possible so they are not left empty.                    

Do I have to pay the premium? 

As this premium applies to the property, a change of owner or tenancy will not affect the premium. If when purchased or leased the property had already been empty and unfurnished for 2 years or more, you will have to pay 200 per cent Council Tax charge.            

You are required to pay the premium if your property has been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for two years or more unless your property: 

• is left empty by a member of the armed forces, who is away from the property because of their service, or
• forms part of a single property, 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.

How do I end the premium charge? 

To bring a change to the premium charge, you must bring the property back into use. The property must be furnished to a level where it can be occupied to live in.   

If you bring your property back into use, please email customerservices@splethorne.gov.uk within 21 days of the property becoming furnished so, an inspection can be arranged, please provide you contact details.   

Please note that visits to long term empty properties take place throughout the year without an appointment to ensure our records are up-to-date.