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. However, there are exceptions to the premium being charged as defined by government which are:

• Class E – Dwelling which is or would be someone’s sole or main residence if they were not residing in job-related armed forces accommodation.
• Class F – Annexes forming part of, or being treated as part of, the main dwelling.
• Class G – Dwellings being actively marketed for sale (12 months limit).
• Class H – Dwellings being actively marketed for let (12 months limit).
• Class I – Unoccupied dwellings which fell within exempt Class F and where probate has recently been granted (12-month limit from grant of probate/letters of administration).
• Class M – Empty properties undergoing or requiring structural alterations or major repairs (12 months limit).

If you have been charged a premium and your property falls within one of the qualifying exceptions, please email council.tax@tendringdc.gov.uk providing evidence of the qualifying exception(s). View the full Government Guidance    

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.