Premium charges
We can add an extra charge to your Council Tax bill if you have an empty and unfurnished property that you are not using. This is known as a premium charge.
From 1 April 2024, the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 introduced changes to regulations. This means the 100% premium charge for empty and unfurnished properties, which local councils could originally charge after 2 years, can now be charged after one year.
We adopted these new regulations and properties which have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for one year or more are subject to a 100% premium from 1 April 2024.
The longer you leave your property empty for, the higher the charge will be. The charge will increase at:
- 100% after one year (from 1 April 2024)
- 200% after 5 years
- 300% after 10 years
The premium charge will be tied to your property and stay with it, even if the owner or tenant changes.
If, when you purchased or leased your property, it had already been empty and unfurnished for a year or more, then from 1 April 2024 you will still have to pay the premium charge.
To remove the premium charge from your empty property, you will need to bring it back into use.
From 1 April 2025 a 100% premium charge will apply to second homes in Birmingham, you can read more about this on information about Council Tax on second homes.
Page last updated: 14 March 2025
