Empty/unoccupied property review
We're carrying out a review of all empty homes to maintain accurate Council Tax records. This is required by law and in support of the government’s initiative to tackle the housing shortage.
As part of the empty/unoccupied property review, you must tell us if the property is occupied or not as someone’s main residence.
For Council Tax purposes, a property is empty if it is:
- unfurnished; and
- unoccupied
An unoccupied property (or second home) is:
- furnished; and
- not used as anyone’s main residence
If it’s not used as anyone’s main residence, then for Council Tax purposes, we still have to record it as either:
- empty
- unoccupied; or
- a second home
This is regardless of any regular or casual use.
If we don't receive a response, we'll inspect the property.
If you have received a SMS, email or letter telling you that your empty/unoccupied property is being reviewed, please complete the short online form to tell us if your property is still empty/unoccupied, or if it is now occupied as someone’s main residence. This will take no longer than five minutes.
It will ask you to register your details first to complete the form.
Complete the empty/unoccupied property review form
Data privacy statement
We process your personal data to provide you with statutory services. We may share information provided with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, law enforcement agencies, or undertake local anti-fraud initiatives, to prevent and detect fraud or money laundering.
If you provide false or inaccurate information and fraud is identified, we may pass details to fraud prevention agencies to prevent more fraud and money laundering.
We'll process your personal information under the relevant data protection legislation. We may share your data without your consent, where it’s lawful to do so.
More information about data protection
Page last updated: 20 September 2023
