Who charges a second-home premium?
Councils can now load a premium on second homes (up to 100% in England, 100% in Scotland, 300% in Wales) and an escalating premium on long-term-empty homes — and they’ve each chosen differently. Put in a postcode to see what your council charges and from when. A premium doesn’t change your band.
A premium doesn't change your band. Empty-home premiums are statutory in England (see the table). Curated collation — verify against the council before relying on it.
What the premium is, and what it isn't
A premium is an extra charge a council adds to the normal bill for a second or long-empty home — it’s about how the home is used, set locally each year, and it can change. It is not a change to your band (the property’s 1991 value, set by the Valuation Office). Statutory exceptions exist — probate grace periods, homes actively marketed for sale or let, job-related dwellings, annexes — which this tool flags but doesn’t adjudicate; check with the council. Authorities we haven’t yet curated show as unknown, never as “no premium”. We currently cover 27 authorities, prioritising the coastal, national-park and city districts with the most second homes.
Follow the thread
Curated from individual council resolutions (England: Levelling-up & Regeneration Act 2023; Welsh & Scottish equivalents), as of 2026-06-05. Premiums are set annually and can change — each row links its source. Aggregate OGL data; a premium does not change your band.