News & Funding

The news comes during national Empty Homes Week (4-10 March 2024).

Previously, the additional 100% Council Tax charge was only payable on empty properties after two years.

Accessible affordable housing and working with landlords to bring empty properties back into use were two of residents’ top priorities identified as part of a consultation on the council’s budget.

Following the approval of the council’s budget earlier this month, empty homes will be charged double the amount of full Council Tax if they are empty for more than one year.

Cabinet Member for Housing and Built Environment Councillor Laura Rollins said: “We are facing a significant housing shortage in Sandwell and we cannot have homes sitting empty.

“We need 41,000 new homes by 2041. Having properties sitting empty only adds to the pressure on housing in the borough.

“By charging extra Council Tax on empty properties, we aim to increase the availability of affordable housing and reduce homelessness by bringing empty homes back into use.”

Anyone who owns a property that has been empty for more than one year as of 1 April 2024 will receive a letter advising them of the charges with their annual Council Tax bill from mid-March.

Second homes will also attract double the amount of Council Tax from 1 April 2025. This will be a change from the current position, which sees second homes charged an additional 100% Council Tax from the day they become empty. This will apply from the beginning of the next financial year.

Sandwell Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources Councillor Bob Piper added: “The increase in Council Tax charges on empty properties will affect around 600 properties that have been empty for a year.

“This will help us to raise more than £800,000 in Council Tax over the financial year to invest back into council services.

“Not only that, we hope this will encourage landlords and owners to not allow homes to remain empty when they could provide much-needed housing.”

Uninhabitable and unoccupied furnished properties will continue to be charged full Council Tax, and properties which are empty for two years or more will continue to be charged at double the full Council Tax rate – rising to 300% charges for homes empty for five years or more, and 400% for empty properties left empty for 10 years or more. These charges have been in place for some years.

Full Council Tax amounts for the financial year 2024/25 payable for each band is shown in the table below

NOTE : The Council Tax levels shown apply to properties with two or more adults living there. Single person households will pay 25% less than this. These discounts are not applicable to empty properties.