°¬˛ćAƬs that do not pay Council Tax
Some homes are exempt from Council Tax. These include:
- Empty homes that:
- have no furniture (up to 6 months)
- are owned by a charity (up to 6 months)
- need major repairs or structural changes (up to 12 months)
- belong to someone in prison
- belong to someone who has moved to get care in a hospital or care home
- belong to someone who has moved to give care to another person
- are left empty by students
- are waiting for probate or letters of administration
- have been repossessed. This applies for up to 2 years after the death, or 12 months after probate, whichever comes first.
- have been repossessed
- are managed by a bankrupt person’s trustee
- are waiting for a minister of religion to move in. This applies for up to 1 year from the date the property became empty.
- are used as a refuge that provides emergency or temporary accommodation for survivors of abuse. This only applies if the refuge is provided by, or commissioned by, a local authority in Wales.
- °¬˛ćAƬs lived in only by students
Important: From 1st April 2026
If your property was empty before you owned it, you may be able to claim an exemption.
This includes:
- an empty home that has no furniture
- an empty home that needs major repairs or structural changes
You must provide evidence to support your claim.
You will need:
- proof that you legally took ownership of the property or,
- proof that the property is registered with His Majesty’s Land Registry