Long Term Empty Premium

From 1st April 2019 the Local Government Finance Act 2012 gave local authorities the power to increase the Council Tax by way of a premium to encourage owners to bring empty properties back into use.

Empty homes are not just a problem in Tendring, but nationally and are a wasted resource. Given the acute need for housing, it is vital that every effort is made to bring such properties back into use at the earliest opportunity.

The changes proposed will therefore also bring us into line with many other local authorities, especially those across Essex where the ‘premium’ is already being charged. Tendring District Council approved the following taking effect from 1^st April 2022 Premium Rate

Properties effected

Date From

100% (on top of what you normally pay)

Properties empty for 2 -5 years

1st April 2022

200% (on top of what you normally pay)

Properties empty for 5 -10 years

1st April 2022

300% (on top of what you normally pay)

Properties empty for 10 years and over

1st April 2022

The Empty Homes Premium will be added to any property which has remained empty and unfurnished for longer than two years; regardless of how long the current owner has had the property. Change of ownership or liability does not affect the premium charged and no account shall be taken for any one or more periods of less than 6 weeks during which the property is not empty. The Empty homes premium will not apply if:

• The property is the main residence of a member of the armed forces absent as a result of such service
• The property forms part of a single property (i.e. an annex) which is being treated as a part of the main dwelling by a resident of that property
• The property is on the market for sale or rent.

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 to end the premium charge?

• To end the premium charge, you must bring the property back into use.

To notify the Council that you have done this please complete the online enquiry form for on our 'Contact Council Tax' webpage.

It was agreed at Full Council on the 28 November 2023 that with effect from 1 April 2024 the empty home premium charge of 100% will apply for properties that have been empty and unfurnished for 12 months, rather than the current period of 2 years.