Empty House Premium for new Owner

DRuby

My daughter completed on an empty flat in Oct 25 and decided not to move in until she had decorated. She completed the Council Tax form to say she had taken over the property and ticked the Empty Property box. It now transpires that there is a difference between Empty and not moved in properly! She was then sent a bill double the amount as the council charged her the 100% Empty House Premium.

I wrote to the council explaining she had only taken over since Oct 25 and that their website states a property has to be empty for over a year before they make this charge. their reply was 'it's the property not the person'. So it seems that if a property has been empty for over a year and a new owner buys it and doesn't move in straight away they are responsible for the previous owner leaving it empty.

Has anyone got any advice they could offer for us to fight this please?

dumpster_fire2025

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/why-am-i-paying-an-empty-homes-premium-on-my-council-tax/

Acquiring an empty property you intend to live in

If you have bought a property which has already been empty for a year or more , and you do not immediately occupy it, you may have to pay the premium. Liability for the premium depends on how long the property has been empty: a change in ownership does not ‘reset the clock’. As soon as you move into the property, the premium will cease to apply, because the property is no longer empty.

However there are a few exemptions listed on that link. Do any apply?

Albermarle

She ticked the empty property box in Oct 2025, but the 100% premium has only come to light recently ?

If she was only doing some decorating, presumably she has moved in some time ago. In which case the premium will not apply anymore?

elsien

If she’s able to buy her own property, she’s able to deal with the council herself, with your help in the background, so I’m not sure why you are writing letters to the council instead of her.
Perhaps she could contact a local councillor to help her with this - when did she move in and which months are they trying to claim the premium for?

lincroft1710

If she hasn't moved in yet, it will be beneficial for her to move in as soon as possible. The council are correct in charging the empty house premium in this case.