If a property is empty, and contains no furniture, it will be exempt for the first 6 months from the date it became unfurnished.
This date may be before you took over the property. This would mean you would only receive that part of the 6 month exempt period that applies to you.
Long-term empty properties (continuous period of at least one year) are subject to a premium from 1 April 2024.
Second homes
In Newport there is no discount allowable for such properties. A council tax premium will come into effect from 1 April 2025.
Exception
Where a dwelling has been left empty because a person must live elsewhere, e.g. as supplied by their employment, there is an exception to the general rule that no discount is allowable.
In these cases, a 50% discount can be awarded.
Second homes owned by people in the armed services
Councils in Wales must give 50% discount for second homes owned by armed forces personnel who live in accommodation provided by the Ministry of Defence.
You can ask for a council tax exemption if your property is:
- undergoing major repairs or structural changes
- empty and owned by a charity
- substantially unfurnished and empty for less than six months
- tenant detained in a prison, hospital or other place of court ordered detention
- person gone to live in a residential care or mental nursing home, including hostels
- council taxpayer deceased
- occupation prohibited by law or an act of parliament
- held for a minister of religion
- person living elsewhere to receive or provide personal care
- left empty by a student
- mortgagee in possession
- left empty by a bankrupt person
- empty caravan pitch or boat mooring
- empty annex to an occupied building
- an empty annex which may not be let separately
Once someone resumes living in your property, please update your council tax details.
Request a paper form by contacting [email protected].