We will make the following charges if the property stays empty.
Empty and unfurnished
No charge for up to one month, the property must be occupied for 6 weeks before this discount can be applied again. After one month, full charge.
Apply for an empty property discount or exemption
Empty homes premiums
The empty homes premium is charged once the property has been empty for one year. Changes in ownership do not affect whether the premium is charged.
- after one year, full charge plus 100%
- after 5 years, full charge plus 200%
- after 10 years, full charge plus 300%
Empty home premium exceptions
From 1 April 2025 there are some exceptions to the empty homes premium. If you currently have a long-term empty premium applied to your property you can apply for an exception for any of the following, if the dwelling is:
- your sole or main residence or would be if you did not reside in job-related armed forced accommodation
- an annex that forms part of, or is being treated as part of, the main dwelling
- actively marketed for sale (12 months limit)
- actively marketed for let (12 months limit)
- left unoccupied by someone that has passed away, and probate has been recently granted. (12 months exception from the grant of probate/letters of administration)
- empty and requires or is undergoing major repairs/structural alterations. (12 months limit)
Furnished properties
Full charge from the date the property became empty.
From 1 April 2025 all properties that are furnished but not occupied by someone as their sole or main residence will be subject to full charge plus 100%.
There are some exceptions to the unoccupied furnished homes premium. If you currently have the premium applied to your property, you can apply for an exception for an exemption for any of the following, if the dwelling is:
- your sole or main residence or would be if you did not reside in job-related armed forced accommodation
- an annex that forms part of, or is being treated as part of, the main dwelling
- actively marketed for sale (12 months limit)
- actively marketed for let (12 months limit)
- job related
- an occupied caravan pitch or boat moorings
- a seasonal home where year-round, permanent occupation is prohibited, specified for use as holiday accommodation or planning condition preventing occupancy for more than 28 days continuously
Empty and undergoing major works
No discount other than one month empty and unfurnished discount (if applicable).