Exemptions, Discounts and Premiums

Unoccupied but furnished properties

There are no reductions for unoccupied but furnished properties, 100% Council Tax is charged.

Unoccupied and unfurnished property

Empty properties are defined as those which are unoccupied and unfurnished. A 25% discount is granted for a period of 28 days from the date a property becomes unoccupied and unfurnished. Note that the 28 day discount is awarded against the property, not the owner. When the discount ends the full charge is payable. If the property remains empty for more than 2 years (from when it first became empty) the level of charge will increase.

Visit our Moving Home webpage if you are moving house. If the empty discount is due, it will be applied automatically.

Property empty for over 2 years

Empty properties in Babergh District Council

From 1st April 2019, when a property has been empty for over 2 years, a ‘long-term empty premium’ of 100% is applied. The rate of Council Tax payable is 200%. Prior to this date, the premium charge was 50%, making the previous rate payable 150%.

For the financial year beginning on 1 April 2020 the maximum premium is;

Long Term Empty 2-5 years – 100%
Long Term Empty 5 years and over - 200%

For the financial year beginning on 1 April 2021 the maximum premium is;

Long Term Empty 2-5 years – 100%
Long Term Empty 5 -9 years - 200%
Long Term Empty at least 10 years and over – 300%

From 1st April 2021, properties that have been unoccupied and unfurnished for more than 10 years will be charged 4 times the standard amount. See the example below;

Charges for properties that are unoccupied and unfurnished for more than 10 years
Description	Amount
Council Tax	£1,500
300% Premium (10 Years & Over)	£4,500
Council Tax Payable	£6,000

Structural alterations or major repair work - uninhabitable property

If a property is undergoing substantial refurbishment work or structural alterations are taking place, you can apply for a 25% discount for up to 12 months. After this time, the property will be treated as a standard empty property. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) may decide to delete the property from the Council Tax list. The VOA will only do this if:

the property is derelict and uninhabitable, or
if the work is substantial and the property is being rebuilt or structurally altered

Exemption Classes

Apply for an Exemption Online

The homes in the lists below are exempt from Council Tax.

UNOCCUPIED homes are exempt if they:

Unoccupied homes exemptions

Class

Description

Are owned by a charity; (exemptions are allowed for up to a maximum of six months from when the property became unoccupied)

Are left empty by an owner or tenant who was living there until going into prison;

E / I

Are left empty by someone who has moved to receive personal care in a hospital, nursing/care home or elsewhere on a permanent basis;

The property is vacant because the liable person has died and probate or letters of administration have not been granted. Exemption continues for up to six months after they are granted;

Are empty because no one is allowed to live there by law;

Are waiting to be occupied by a minister of religion;

Are left empty by the owner or tenant who was living there until moving away to care for someone;

Are owned by a student and were last occupied by that student;

Have been repossessed;

Are the responsibility of a bankrupt’s trustee;

Are a site for an individual caravan or mobile home, or a mooring;

Are part of a property which also includes another home and cannot be let separately.

OCCUPIED homes are exempt if they are occupied:

Occupied homes exemptions

Class

Description

Only by students;

The taxpayer is a member of the United States Air Force, or his or her non-UK dependent;

Only by people aged under 18;

Only by people who are severely mentally impaired and who would otherwise have to pay;

By a diplomat or member of certain international organisations;

An annex occupied by a person over 65 or disabled or severely mentally impaired. Who are dependent on relatives that are residing in the main part of the property.

UNOCCUPIED or OCCUPIED homes are exempt when:

Unoccupied or Occupied homes exemptions
Class	Description
O	They are Forces barracks or married quarters (The Crown will pay towards the cost of local services through a special arrangement).

Classes A to W above are only broad descriptions of the available exemptions. If you are waiting for the outcome of an application for an exemption, you must continue to pay the current bill. When an exemption ends we will send you a bill for the remainder of the financial year's charge.

Please remember, if your circumstances change, you must tell us within 21 days.

Storms Babet and Ciarán