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Empty homes

What to do if your home has been empty long-term, report an empty home, long-term empty properties and Council Tax.

Empty homes can cause problems for nearby residents and the wider community.  They can be a magnet for:

  • anti-social behaviour
  • crime
  • vandalism
  • arson
  • fly-tipping

They could instead be used to help meet local housing needs.

How much it costs to leave a home empty

An empty home also costs money to you the owner and to the community. You'll have to pay for things like:

  • insurance
  • security costs
  • maintenance costs
  • Council Tax
  • utility bills

It is estimated that an empty property can cost owners on average £7,000 a year in lost rent and Council Tax.

You can save money by bringing an empty property back into use but you could also bring in rental income or a significant lump sum by selling up.

Advice and information for empty home owners

How we can help

It's up to you how to look after your property but we can help if a property gets stuck as an empty home. Call us to see how we can help:

Telephone: 030 33 33 3000

We focus is on providing advice, guiding you through the options so you can select the solution that is right for you. We also look at what can be done about problematic properties and cases where the owner has no intention of returning a property to use.

Many properties are empty for valid reasons, and we appreciate that renovations and sales take time. We rarely need to get involved in these circumstances.

Council Tax Reduction

You may qualify for Council Tax Reduction if your property is unoccupied. 

However, we'll double the amount of Council Tax if a property is unoccupied for 12 months or more. 

This is called the long term empty property tariff. It applies even if a property is derelict or in very poor condition.

Report an empty property

Report now

Provide as much information as possible about the property and include a precise address. This information will help us work out what action is needed.

Town Centre Living Fund

We are trying to increase the supply of affordable housing in town centres by bringing empty properties back into use.

The Town Centre Living Fund supports ongoing work aimed at:

  • improving the sustainability and vibrancy of our town centres
  • encouraging the refurbishment of empty properties
  • providing homes for our communities

The fund supports projects which meet local housing need and wider regeneration outcomes. 

Find out more about the Town Centre Living Fund.