Unoccupied and unfurnished property
If you are responsible for an unoccupied and substantially unfurnished property, a time limited discount may be applied to your council tax bill.
The Local Government Finance Act 2012 gave local authorities increased discretion to set their discounts.
Properties which are unoccupied and substantially unfurnished
You will get:
- A 25% discount for a period of six months if the property is unoccupied and substantially unfurnished.
- A 100% discount for the whole period if the property is reoccupied within one month of becoming unoccupied and unfurnished
It is the total empty period that is taken into consideration, this may include liability other than your own.
No further discount will be given if the property remains unoccupied and unfurnished after six months.
Properties undergoing major repair or structural alteration
You will get a 25% discount if the property is unoccupied and:
- Requires or is undergoing major repair work to render it habitable, or
- Is undergoing structural alteration
The discount will continue for up to six months after the work is complete as long as the property remains unoccupied and the whole period is no longer than 12 months.
You can apply for this discount by:
- Email - council.tax@sunderland.gov.uk or;
- Write to - Sunderland City Council, Council Tax Section, City Hall, Plater Way, Sunderland, SR1 3AA
- Phone - by speaking to our Home and Money team
After you have applied, we will contact you to arrange a visit to your property.
This discount does not apply where a property has remained unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for more than two years.
Long -term empty property premium
Properties that have been unoccupied and unfurnished for two years or more will attract a premium. The amount payable for properties that are unoccupied and unfurnished are:
- 200% from two to five years
- 300% for five to ten years
- 400% for ten years or more
We will not add a long term empty premium to an annexe or if your home is empty due to your service in the armed forces.
This measure has been brought in to encourage homeowners to either, rent or sell their empty homes and bring them back into much needed residential use. These charges will still apply if you have just purchased a property that has previously been empty as the charges relate to the property and are not related to the ownership.
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