Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what support the Government provides to assist people who have inherited a property from a deceased relative but face financial hardship because they have been unable to sell the property within the 6-month period during which empty properties are exempt from Council Tax.

When a property is empty following the death of the owner, it is exempt from council tax for as long as it remains unoccupied and until probate is granted. Following a grant of probate, a further exemption of up to six months is possible, after which normal rules apply. However, local authorities have powers to agree alternative payment arrangements and some offer to defer payment until the proceeds of a sale are made available.