Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22038 on Council Tax: Probate, what the minimum length of time is that a property has to be empty for, before which an empty homes council tax premium can be applied by a local authority, in cases where the dwelling is put on sale or let immediately on becoming empty.

Local authorities have the discretionary power to charge a council tax premium on homes which have been left unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for one or more years. The government has published guidance which sets out that certain classes of dwellings including those actively marketed for sale or let may be excepted from the premium. This exception will apply provided the dwelling has not been marketed for sale or let for more than one year. Where a property has been marketed for more than one year it would not be eligible for this exception.