There is no discount for an empty property.
100% council tax is payable from the date a property becomes empty and unfurnished for 1 year. This is regardless of any change in ownership.
If you have more than one property, we may have to decide which property is your main house. We may request further information to do this.
If your second home is job-related you may get a 50% discount. This is if your (or your spouse's) employment contract requires you to live in the property.
When applying for the discount, we will need a copy of your employment contract. If one of your properties is outside Wolverhampton, we need a copy of that property's council tax bill.
There is no discount or exemption for these properties and the full charge is payable. If the property is derelict and cannot be lived in, you may be able to get it removed from the Valuation List. You should make any further inquiries to the Valuation Office Agency.
For further information please read the Valuation Office guidance.
While an appeal is being made you are still liable to pay the full amount of council tax on the demand. You need to keep paying the instalments to avoid court action. If the appeal is successful you will receive a refund.
Armed Service Personnel who are required to live in barracks in England, Scotland or Wales and are liable for Council Tax at residential property in Wolverhampton may be eligible for a Council Tax discount of 50%. City of Wolverhampton Council have also extended this discount to Armed Forces personnel stationed abroad.
To be eligible for the discount you must meet the following criteria:
- The person liable for Council Tax at the property must be Armed Fores personnel and required to live in Service accommodation as part of their job
- The residential property must be furnished
- The residential property must be unoccupied
The discount only applies to unoccupied properties and not properties where the service persons partner or family are in residence.
To apply for this discount please complete the Contact Council Tax form (using the option ‘Something else’). You will need to detail the date the property became unoccupied, confirm that the property remains furnished and attach evidence of being stationed elsewhere. Please also provide an alternative contact address if you require your correspondence to be sent elsewhere. Alternatively you can opt to register for paperless billing here.