Council tax discounts on unoccupied properties
Changes from 1 April 2008
Full council tax is payable if there are two or more people aged 18 or over living in a property.
Council Tax is also payable on some unoccupied properties and properties which are not occupied on a permanent basis. Prior to 1 April 2008, all unoccupied properties in Wolverhampton qualify for a 50% discount.
Legislation has been passed by the Government to encourage owners and landlords to bring empty property back into use. This gives local authorities the power to vary the discount given on empty homes. As a result, changes have been introduced by Wolverhampton City Council from 1 April 2008.
Long term unoccupied and substantially unfurnished properties
The discount awarded to properties that have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for a continuous period of at least six months is reduced from 50% of the full council tax charge to 0% (zero) from 1 April 2008.
Where properties qualify for up to a 12 month exemption due to undergoing major or structural repair work, there is no further discount allowed following the expiry of the exempt period or from 1 April 2008, whichever is the later. For other properties which have been unoccupied since 1 October 2007 or earlier, full council tax is payable from 1 April 2008.
There is no further discount or exemption on unoccupied and unfurnished properties once they have received the full exemption period. 100% council tax will be payable.
Click for further information about exempt properties.
Unoccupied but furnished properties
The council tax discount awarded to furnished properties that are not the sole or main residence of an individual (e.g. second homes) is reduced to 25% from 1 April 2008.
Job-related dwellings
Where a council tax payer has two homes, one of which is a job-related dwelling as defined in the regulations, there is no change and a 50% discount is still allowed on the second dwelling.
Contacts
For more information or an application form, contact:
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Phone (01902) 555805 or 555806
or visit:
Wolverhampton City Council
Council Tax and Business Rates
Reception 12, First Floor
Civic Centre, St Peter's Square
Wolverhampton, WV1 1SH.
Empty properties advice
For advice on how to bring your empty property back into use, please contact the Empty Properties Team on