UK · Council tax · Empty homes
Empty home council tax premium calculator.
Add the long-term empty homes premium to a standard bill and check it against the England and Wales maximums.
Sources Retrieved 2026-10-16. Figures are the published national rules; your council’s own decisions and bill are authoritative.
Inputs
Your bill with premium
Enter your standard bill.
What the premium is
A long-term empty homes premium is extra Council Tax on a home that has been empty for a long time. England: the maximum is 100% for homes empty between 1 and 5 years, 200% between 5 and 10 years, and 300% over 10 years, which means up to 2, 3 and 4 times the standard bill. Wales: up to 300% of the standard rate. Scotland: the cap of double the usual rate ended on 1 April 2026, and councils set their own level. Premiums are a council decision.
In England the mandatory exceptions include homes undergoing major repairs or structural alterations (up to 12 months), homes marketed for sale or to let (up to 12 months), recently probated homes (up to 12 months), annexes, and job-related armed forces accommodation. This tool treats exactly 5 years as the 200% tier and exactly 10 years as the 300% tier.
Worked example. A standard bill of £2,000, empty for 6 years in England: the maximum premium is 200%, so the premium is £4,000 and the total £6,000.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the empty homes premium in England?
Up to 100% after 1 year, 200% after 5 years and 300% after 10 years, each on top of the standard bill (GOV.UK).
Does every council charge it?
No. Councils decide whether to charge a premium and at what level up to the maximum.
What about Wales?
Welsh councils can charge up to 300% of the standard rate on long-term empty homes (gov.wales); each council decides.
What about Scotland?
mygov.scot says premiums were capped at double the usual rate until 1 April 2026 and that cap no longer applies. Councils set the rate.
Can the premium be waived?
In England, homes being marketed, under major repair or recently probated are excepted for up to 12 months. Check your council.
Sources
Checked
- GOV.UK: Guidance on the implementation of the council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes
- GOV.UK: Council Tax on second homes and empty properties
- gov.wales: Council Tax dwellings April 2026 to March 2027
- mygov.scot: Council Tax for empty homes and second homes
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Scope
Premium levels are set by each council and exceptions apply. Your council is the authority. General information, not tax or legal advice.