From April 2025 an additional amount of council tax (a premium) will be charged when a property has been unoccupied and unfurnished for one year or more.
Premium charges
From 1 April 2025 the following premiums apply:
- 100% premium for properties empty 1 to 5 years
- 200% premium for properties empty 5 to 10 years
- 300% premium for properties empty more than 10 years
From 1 April 2025 the 100% discount for the first 14 days will be removed and charges will be applied from day one.
The premiums apply to the property. A change of ownership or tenancy will not affect the premium.
If you buy a property that has been empty and unfurnished for one or more years you will still have to pay the council tax plus the premium. The premium will be removed if the property becomes furnished and someone moves in.
There are exceptions to the premium charges from 1 April 2025. View the government guidance for details of these.
If you believe that you have been inappropriately charged a premium on a dwelling, you should in the first instance contact us at: billing.section@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk.
We may request additional evidence before removing the premium or applying an exception.
Charges from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2025
From 1 April 2013, changes to Section 11B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, which detailed how councils can bill long term empty properties, came into effect.
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council apply levy of 100% for all properties empty for longer than two years.
Allowance for domestic property first falling empty
| Time period | Maximum exemption/100% discount period |
|---|---|
| Period up to 31/03/2013 | 6 months under Exemption Class C |
| 01/04/2013 - 31/03/2018 | 3 months 100% discount |
| 01/04/2018 - to date | 14 days 100% discount |
Long-term empty property charges
| Time period | Level of charge |
|---|---|
| Period up to 31/03/2013 | 50% (after 6 months standing empty) |
| 01/04/2013 to 31/03/2021 | 150% Premium (after 2 years standing empty) |
| 01/04/2021 to date | 200% Premium (after 2 years standing empty) |
Changes of liability or ownership
Premium charge remains tied to the property, even if the owner or tenant changes. If your property had been left empty for two years or more at the time of purchase or lease, you’ll still have to pay the premium charge while it remains empty. The property must be in use to remove the premium charge.
The council may request supporting documentation before removal of the premium charge. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Uninhabitable or properties undergoing structural or major repairs
There is no exemption available for these types of properties. Exemption Class A was abolished as of 1 April 2013.
Properties undergoing these works are subject to the same charge as an empty and unfurnished property -14 days relief from the first day it becomes empty, full charges from the fifteenth day and the long-term empty premium once that property has been empty for two years.