Dudley Council Tax Empty Property Premium — Rates, Exemptions, and How to Avoid It

If you own a property in Dudley that has been empty and substantially unfurnished for more than one year, the council charges a premium on top of the standard council tax rate. The premium escalates the longer the property stays empty, reaching up to 300% after ten years — meaning you pay quadruple the normal bill.

These premiums were introduced under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 and Dudley Council adopted them to encourage bringing empty homes back into use.

Current Empty Property Premium Rates in Dudley

For a Band D property in Dudley (standard charge £2,144.84 in 2026/27), the annual bill would be:

• 1–5 years empty: £4,289.68
• 5–10 years empty: £6,434.52
• 10+ years empty: £8,579.36

Second Home Premium

From 1 April 2025, Dudley also charges a 100% premium on furnished properties with no resident (second homes) after one year. If you own a second property in Dudley that is furnished but nobody lives in it, the bill doubles after the first 12 months.

When Exceptions to the Premium Apply

Not every empty property attracts the premium immediately. The main exceptions are:

• Probate exemption (Class F): After probate is granted, an unoccupied property may be exempt for up to six months if it remains in the deceased person's name. Council tax after a death is handled by bereavementstartguide.com.
• Annexes: An empty property that is an annex may be exempt from the empty-home premium.
• Properties undergoing major repair or structural alteration: You may be exempt from the premium for up to 12 months while major repairs or structural alterations are underway. The standard council tax charge still applies unless a separate exemption applies or the property is removed from the valuation list.
• Properties on the market for sale or let: You may not have to pay the premium for up to 12 months while the property is marketed. Contact Dudley Council to apply for the exception; standard council tax still applies.
• Armed forces accommodation: You may not have to pay the premium if you have to move into armed forces accommodation as part of your work.

If you believe an exception should apply, contact Dudley Council Plus on 0300 555 2345 with evidence of your circumstances.

Reducing the Premium

The most direct route to reducing or eliminating the premium is to bring the property back into use — either by occupying it, renting it out, or selling it. Dudley Council's Empty Properties team can provide advice on grants or loans available for bringing empty homes up to habitable standard.

If the property is empty because of factors outside your control (such as structural damage from flooding), document everything and ask about Section 13A discretionary relief. Dudley assesses applications individually, and its policy requires household capital and savings to be under £3,000.

Empty Properties and Council Tax Reduction

The empty property premium applies to the property owner, and CTR is a personal relief for low-income residents based on the property they live in. You cannot claim CTR on an empty property — it only applies to the home you actually live in as your main residence.

If you are a low-income owner who lives in one Dudley property and owns a second that is empty, the premium applies to the empty one and CTR can only be claimed on your home. For help with your own council tax bill, see the Dudley Council Tax Reduction guide.

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