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Council Tax Premium Scheme for Long-term Empty Properties
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Powys County Council is undertaking a public consultation from 8 Julyto 19 Aug 2026, to provide members of the public, interested parties and stakeholders the opportunity to have their say on the future of the Council Tax Premium Scheme in respect of long-term empty properties in Powys.
Long-term empty homes can undermine neighbourhoods and community sustainability, particularly in rural areas, by contributing to decline, reducing cohesion, and limiting support for local services. Powys has significant and ongoing housing need, with demand for affordable homes outstripping supply in many rural communities. Long-term empty properties represent a substantial underused asset that could help meet local need more sustainably.The consultation responses will help to shape future decisions.
The Council Tax (Long-Term Empty Dwellings and Dwellings Occupied Periodically) (Wales) Regulations 2022, permit local authorities to charge a maximum Council Tax premium on long-term empty properties of up to 300%, above the standard rate of Council Tax on long-term empty properties. Local authorities may specify different percentages on the length of time for which they have been empty. This enables local authorities to take a stepped approach, with incremental increases applying over time. Powys County Council introduced a long-term empty premium in 2017, of 50% and reviewed and increased to 100% with effect from 1 April 2023.
The Council Tax long-term empty premium is currently charged on properties that are not in use as someone’s sole or main residence due to being a long-term empty property which is defined as one that has been empty and has had no resident for over one year.
Not every property that falls into the category above pays a premium and the scheme provides limited exceptions (combination of time-limited and indefinite) where the premium would not apply. Details of the exceptions to Council Tax premiums may be viewed at: https://en.powys.gov.uk/article/3079/Council-Tax-Premiums
The latest analysis of properties shows a total of 897 long-term empty properties are subject to the Council Tax long-term empty premium charge, equating to 1.3% of all domestic properties within Powys (67,445) being liable for the premium charge. Below is an analysis of the length of time these properties have been empty and unfurnished:
Time - Empty & Unfurnished
Number of properties
1 year
303
2 years
124
3 years
90
4 years
61
5 years
49
6-9 years
117
+10 years
153
When considering whether to amend the premium levels, the discretion given to local authorities to charge a premium is intended to be a tool to:
Bring long-term empty homes back into use to provide safe, secure, and affordable homes; and
Increase the supply of affordable housing and enhance the sustainability of local communities and the economy.
Have your say
You can leave your feedback online through our survey below by clicking the COMPLETE FORM button. The questionnaire will only take a few minutes of your time to complete.
Paper copies of the survey are available todownload or can be picked up from your local library. Please return completed forms to library staff, or scan and email them to haveyoursay@powys.gov.uk.
The closing date for responses is 19th August 2026.
Powys County Council is undertaking a public consultation from 8 Julyto 19 Aug 2026, to provide members of the public, interested parties and stakeholders the opportunity to have their say on the future of the Council Tax Premium Scheme in respect of long-term empty properties in Powys.
Long-term empty homes can undermine neighbourhoods and community sustainability, particularly in rural areas, by contributing to decline, reducing cohesion, and limiting support for local services. Powys has significant and ongoing housing need, with demand for affordable homes outstripping supply in many rural communities. Long-term empty properties represent a substantial underused asset that could help meet local need more sustainably.The consultation responses will help to shape future decisions.
The Council Tax (Long-Term Empty Dwellings and Dwellings Occupied Periodically) (Wales) Regulations 2022, permit local authorities to charge a maximum Council Tax premium on long-term empty properties of up to 300%, above the standard rate of Council Tax on long-term empty properties. Local authorities may specify different percentages on the length of time for which they have been empty. This enables local authorities to take a stepped approach, with incremental increases applying over time. Powys County Council introduced a long-term empty premium in 2017, of 50% and reviewed and increased to 100% with effect from 1 April 2023.
The Council Tax long-term empty premium is currently charged on properties that are not in use as someone’s sole or main residence due to being a long-term empty property which is defined as one that has been empty and has had no resident for over one year.
Not every property that falls into the category above pays a premium and the scheme provides limited exceptions (combination of time-limited and indefinite) where the premium would not apply. Details of the exceptions to Council Tax premiums may be viewed at: https://en.powys.gov.uk/article/3079/Council-Tax-Premiums
The latest analysis of properties shows a total of 897 long-term empty properties are subject to the Council Tax long-term empty premium charge, equating to 1.3% of all domestic properties within Powys (67,445) being liable for the premium charge. Below is an analysis of the length of time these properties have been empty and unfurnished:
Time - Empty & Unfurnished
Number of properties
1 year
303
2 years
124
3 years
90
4 years
61
5 years
49
6-9 years
117
+10 years
153
When considering whether to amend the premium levels, the discretion given to local authorities to charge a premium is intended to be a tool to:
Bring long-term empty homes back into use to provide safe, secure, and affordable homes; and
Increase the supply of affordable housing and enhance the sustainability of local communities and the economy.
Have your say
You can leave your feedback online through our survey below by clicking the COMPLETE FORM button. The questionnaire will only take a few minutes of your time to complete.
Paper copies of the survey are available todownload or can be picked up from your local library. Please return completed forms to library staff, or scan and email them to haveyoursay@powys.gov.uk.
The closing date for responses is 19th August 2026.
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