Council tax exemptions - unoccupied homes

If a property is empty and contains no furniture it will be exempt from council tax 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.                  

Please contact us to check whether the property is still eligible for an exemption.

You can ask for a council tax exemption if the 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
• Held for a minister of religion
• Person living elsewhere to receive or provide personal care
• Left empty by a student
• Empty annex to an occupied building
• Occupation prohibited by law or an act of parliament
• Mortgagee in possession
• Left empty by a bankrupt person
• Empty caravan pitch or boat mooring

If you think you may qualify for one of these exemptions, please contact us.

Please note, if you are eligible for a council tax discount or exemption, you will be asked to complete a review form every year. If you do not complete the review form, you will have to pay your council tax in full.

If your circumstances change and you are no longer eligible for a reduction, please let us know as soon as possible. If you don’t, you may receive a penalty charge. Email revenues@torfaen.gov.uk