Empty properties and second homes
You must pay council tax on a property if it's:
- empty and unfurnished
- empty and furnished
- a second home that is not job related
- uninhabitable
Charges for empty properties
We charge council tax for empty properties. This can include properties that are empty for any length of time, even if it’s only a few days.
Here are some common examples of when you might be charged.
Example: leaving a rented property
You move out on 20 May but your tenancy agreement does not end until 31 May. You’re charged council tax up to and including 31 May.
Example: buying a property
You buy a property on 1 March. You decide to move in on 19 May. You’re charged council tax at your new property from 1 March.
Properties being refurbished
If you’ve a property being refurbished, a council tax discount will only apply if the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) deletes the property from the council tax list because it is:
- derelict
- uninhabitable
- being rebuilt
- being structurally altered
If you would like to get a derelict property removed from the council tax valuation list, apply to the Valuation Office Agency.
Properties empty for more than one year
If your property is empty and unfurnished for more than one year, an extra amount of council tax is charged. This is known as a long-term empty premium.
We charge this to encourage people to bring empty homes back into use.
- Any property that has been empty for more than one year before 1 April 2024 will be charged double the amount of council tax
- Any property that has been empty for more than five years from 1 April 2020 will be charged three times the amount of council tax
- Any property that has been empty for more than 10 years from 1 April 2021 will be charged four times the amount of council tax
The empty period starts from when the property first became empty, even if the owner has changed during that period.
The empty premium will stop when you move in or furnish the property.
Do empty properties get a discount?
There's no discount for most empty properties in Redbridge. But sometimes there are exceptions.
Check if an empty property is eligible for a discount or exemption
Help with empty properties
We can help if you:
- own an empty property and want to bring it back into use
- want to report an empty property in your area
See empty properties
Second homes
A second home is any property that is:
- furnished
- not the owner’s main residence
This includes holiday homes or any property owned or rented in addition to the main residence.
From 1 April 2025, you’ll be charged double the amount of council tax you would normally pay. This is known as a second home premium.
Exemptions
Some properties are exempt from the second home premium.
Job related proprieties
These properties are provided by an employer for specific roles such as a school caretaker or headmaster.
These properties qualify for a 50% council tax discount.
Apply for a second home for your job discount
Caravan pitches and boat moorings
These properties get a 50% discount and are exempt from the second home premium.
You can apply for this discount after 1st April 2025.
Annexes
Self-contained living spaces within your main property.
Properties going through probate
Homes left unoccupied because of the owner’s death are exempt from the premium for up to 12 months after probate is granted.
You can apply for this discount after 1st April 2025.
Properties for sale or rent
Properties that are actively marketed for sale or rent may qualify for an exemption. You may have to provide proof of the active marketing.
You can apply for this discount after 1st April 2025.
If you’re no longer using your property as a second home
You need to contact us so we can make sure that you get charged the right amount on your council tax bill.
You’ll be asked to provide proof of the property’s position.
