Swansea and Newport Council Tax Premiums: Second Home and Empty Home Rates 2026/27

Swansea and Newport both sit at the lower end of Welsh council tax premiums — 100% on both second homes and long-term empty properties. That still doubles the normal bill, but the rates are modest compared to authorities like Gwynedd (150%) or Pembrokeshire (up to 300% on empty homes).

Swansea: 100% Across the Board

The City and County of Swansea charges a 100% premium on both periodically occupied dwellings (second homes) and long-term empty properties. For 2026/27, a Band D property in areas without a community-council precept has a standard charge of £2,212.52, including the police precept; with a 100% premium, that part of the bill is approximately £4,425 before any community-council precept.

Swansea requires specific proof for each exception class: military payslips for Class 4 (armed forces), employment contracts for Class 7 (job-related dwellings), and active estate agent links with dates for Classes 1 and 2 (marketed for sale or let). The council accepts both digital and paper submissions.

Newport: 100% Plus Local Exceptions

Newport also charges 100% on both categories, but stands out for its local discretionary exception scheme — one of the more generous in Wales:

• Local Exception A: Annexes (supplementing the national Class 3 where the annexe does not quite meet the statutory test)
• Local Exception B: A three-month grace period for new owners — the premium does not apply during the first three months after purchasing a property
• Local Exception C: A renovation exception for properties undergoing refurbishment

These local exceptions sit on top of the seven national statutory classes. They vary from year to year and are set by Newport's own council determination, so they are worth checking annually even if you applied in a previous year.

Evidence Standards

Both councils assess applications on the balance of probabilities. For a Class 1 (sale) exception, the asking price must be reasonable compared to recent Land Registry completions for the area. For Class 7 (job-related dwelling), the employment contract must specify a mandatory residency requirement — not just proximity to a workplace.

To challenge a refusal, submit a formal written Section 16 grievance to the council. If it rejects the grievance, you may appeal free to the Valuation Tribunal for Wales within two months of the decision notice; if it does not respond within two months, the appeal must reach the tribunal within four months from the date you submitted the grievance.

The Wales Premium Exceptions Guide covers both national and local exception routes, with evidence checklists tailored to each class.

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