Owners to pay Council Tax premium on second homes

From 1 April 2025, the council will introduce a new Council Tax premium for people who own second homes in the borough.

Families in the borough are already facing immense pressures due to the ongoing London-wide housing crisis. This charge is designed to encourage property owners to bring underutilised homes back into full-time use. It will match the charge introduced in 2024 for homes that have been left empty for more than a year. This is the maximum increase permitted under existing legislation.

Who will have to pay the premium charge?

You will be required to pay the premium if your second home is:

• A holiday home
• Used for personal convenience
• A second home between tenancies

Council tax premium rates from 1 April 2025

Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Customer Experience, Resident Support and Culture, said:

“Britain’s broken housing system means that we are struggling to keep pace with the numbers of homeless families approaching us for help. That’s despite Brent leading the way in building new homes, completing the most affordable homes of any London council over the past two years, and the second highest number of new-builds overall in the past decade.

“We know that demand still outstrips supply and additional measures are necessary to complement our building efforts. Second homes that are occasionally occupied can exacerbate housing shortages by effectively removing properties from the local housing market during periods of vacancy, making it more difficult for residents to find permanent accommodation.

“Discouraging the prolonged vacancy of second homes is essential to alleviating the housing crisis and freeing up more properties for local residents in need.”

Read more about Council Tax.