Redbridge Council Tax Empty Property: Discounts, Exemptions, and When Full Rates Apply

An empty property in Redbridge still generates a council tax bill — and in many cases, the full amount. The rules on empty property discounts have tightened over the past decade, and Redbridge, like most London boroughs, applies a premium on homes that have been empty for an extended period. Here's when a discount or exemption applies, when it doesn't, and what you need to tell the council.

Short-Term Empty Properties

If your property is unoccupied and substantially unfurnished, Redbridge may apply a short-term discount. The key word is "may" — since 2013, councils in England have had discretion over whether to offer any discount at all for empty properties, and many have reduced or eliminated them entirely.

Redbridge's current approach: properties that are empty and unfurnished typically receive no discount — the full council tax rate applies from day one. Check with the revenues team for the current financial year's policy, as councils review this annually.

Exempt Properties (Class Exemptions)

Certain empty properties qualify for a full exemption — no council tax at all — for a limited period. The main categories relevant to Redbridge residents:

Class F — Deceased owner's property. When someone dies and their property is left empty, it's exempt from council tax until probate or letters of administration are granted, plus six months after. This gives executors time to settle the estate without a council tax bill accumulating. After the exemption period, the full rate applies (and the estate or new owner is liable).

Class H — Awaiting occupation by a minister of religion. Rare, but it exists.

Class K — Left empty by a person who has gone into care or hospital. The property is exempt for as long as the owner remains in residential care, a hospital, or similar accommodation — with no time limit.

Class L — Empty because the owner has been repossessed. Exempt while the mortgage lender is in possession.

Exemptions are not automatic. You need to notify the Redbridge revenues team and provide evidence of the qualifying circumstances.

The Empty Home Premium

Properties that have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for an extended period face a premium on top of the standard council tax rate. The premium is designed to incentivise owners to bring homes back into use. Current rates in England:

• Empty for 1–5 years: Up to 100% premium (double the standard rate)
• Empty for 5–10 years: Up to 200% premium (triple the standard rate)
• Empty for 10+ years: Up to 300% premium (quadruple the standard rate)

Redbridge sets its own premium levels within these statutory maxima. The premium applies to the property, not to the owner's personal council tax account — so it doesn't affect any CTR claim you have on your main residence.

Second Homes and Furnished Empty Properties

A property that's furnished but nobody's main residence — a second home, a holiday let between tenants, or a property you're renovating but haven't moved into — is treated differently from an unfurnished empty property. From April 2025, councils in England can charge up to a 100% premium on second homes (double the standard rate), though each council decides whether and when to implement this.

The distinction between "furnished but unoccupied" and "unfurnished and unoccupied" matters for which set of rules applies. If you're emptying a property before selling it, removing the furniture shifts it from the second-home category to the empty-property category.

Landlords Between Tenants

If you're a Redbridge landlord and your rental property is empty between tenants, you're liable for council tax during the void period. There's no automatic exemption for rental voids. The bill is at the full rate unless one of the class exemptions applies.

Minimising void periods is the obvious financial incentive, but if the property needs refurbishment between tenants, budget for council tax during the works. Some landlords don't realise they're liable until a bill arrives months later.

How to Notify the Council

Report an empty property to the Redbridge revenues team through the council's online account or by phone. You'll need to provide:

• The address and your council tax reference number
• The date the property became empty
• Whether it's furnished or unfurnished
• The reason it's empty (if claiming an exemption)
• Evidence supporting an exemption claim (grant of probate, care home admission letter, etc.)

The council may inspect the property to verify its status. They also periodically review empty property records and can remove an exemption or discount if the qualifying conditions no longer apply.

If You're Struggling with Council Tax on Your Main Home

Empty property rules are separate from Council Tax Reduction, which only applies to your main residence. If you're a Redbridge resident on a low income dealing with council tax on the home you actually live in, our Redbridge Council Tax Reduction guide covers the five-tier working-age scheme that can reduce your bill by 36% to 73%.

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