From Wednesday 1 April 2026 properties that are unoccupied and having major repair work done will no longer receive a discount.
The Government made changes to the Local Government Finance Act 2012 in 2013. This change gave councils considerable discretion over the levels of council tax discount available on empty properties.
If your property is unoccupied because it needs major repair work before it can be lived in, you could be entitled to a 50% discount on your Council Tax bill. The discount can be given for up to one year.
If your property is unoccupied and unfurnished, you won’t be entitled to a discount.
The best way to manage your Council Tax account is online using MyAccount.
You could be entitled to a discount if you cannot live in your home because of:
You cannot claim a discount for:
You should apply before or very soon after the work starts. You need to send us evidence of the work that is needed, such as a surveyors’ report, dated photographs, invoices, estimates and planning applications.
Your evidence must show the property’s address, unless it is a photograph.
If you don’t send us any evidence, we can’t give you a discount.
Empty property discounts apply to the property and not the person who owns or usually lives there. If the previous Council Tax payer rents out or sells the property to you, the discount will not continue. You will be responsible for paying the full Council Tax bill.
If your property is unoccupied because you live in a home provided by your employer, you could get a 50% discount on your Council Tax bill.
An increase on Council Tax payments will be applied to homes that are left empty and unfurnished for one year or more, unless a discount or exemption applies.
You will not be able to appeal this decision.