Caerphilly, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and South Wales Valleys Council Tax Premium

Premium Rates Across the South Wales Valleys

The South Wales Valleys authorities set their own premium rates, which can differ between second homes and long-term empty dwellings. Check each council's current policy for the applicable percentage.

Merthyr Tydfil stands out for its clearly tiered empty-home structure: 100% for properties empty 1–5 years, 150% for 5–10 years, and 200% for over 10 years. Merthyr also operates local exception classes — Class 8 (New Owner/Composite) and Class 9 (renovation, up to 6 months) — alongside the seven national exceptions.

Monmouthshire sets its own premium policy for second homes and empty dwellings. Check the council's current policy for the rate that applies to your property.

For Caerphilly, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen, and Blaenau Gwent, check each council's current policy to confirm whether a premium applies to the relevant property category and at what rate.

Why Empty Homes Dominate in the Valleys

Unlike coastal Wales, where second-home premiums target holiday properties, the Valleys councils are using empty-home premiums as a lever to address derelict and vacant housing. Properties inherited from older relatives, former council houses bought under Right to Buy and never maintained, and homes left empty after a move into care are the typical profiles.

This means the most relevant exemptions for Valleys property owners tend to be:

• Class F (probate): if you have inherited a property and it remains unoccupied, the exemption runs from the date of death until six months after probate is granted
• Class E (care move): if the owner moved permanently into a care home or hospital, the property is exempt indefinitely while they remain in care and retain ownership
• Class A (major repairs): Wales retained this exemption when England scrapped it — structural renovation work qualifies for up to 12 months of complete exemption

Merthyr Tydfil's Local Exceptions

Merthyr Tydfil's local Class 8 and Class 9 exceptions are worth understanding because they go beyond the national framework. Class 8 provides transitional relief for newly acquired properties, and Class 9 grants up to six months of premium exemption for renovation work. Its qualifying criteria are local, so check them with the council.

If you own a property in Merthyr Tydfil that needs renovation, check the council's current Class 9 criteria and whether your planned works qualify.

Monmouthshire and the Border Market

Monmouthshire sits on the England–Wales border, and some property owners hold homes in both jurisdictions. England and Wales have separate council tax premium rules. A second home in Monmouthshire is subject to Welsh exception classes under the 2015 Regulations, while a property across the border in Herefordshire or Gloucestershire falls under English rules. Check the policy of the authority where each property is located.

If you own property on both sides, the premium status of each is determined independently by the respective billing authority. There is no cross-border offset or credit.

How to Apply for an Exception

Every one of these eight councils processes exception applications individually. Submit to the billing authority where the property is located, with evidence matching the exception class you are claiming. If you challenge a decision through a formal written grievance under Section 16 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the council rejects it or does not decide it within two calendar months, you can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal for Wales at no cost.

The Wales premium exceptions guide covers every national and local exception class with evidence checklists tailored to each type of property situation.

See more Wales guides →