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Council Tax Discount for Second Homes

The full Council Tax bill assumes that there are two or more adults (people aged 18 or over) living in a dwelling.

You may pay less Council Tax if you own or rent a property that isn’t the home where you usually live.

Second homes are defined as furnished properties which are not occupied as someone's main residence. This includes furnished properties that are unoccupied between tenancies.

We can grant a 10% discount for all properties within this area classed as second homes.

Discount on Second Homes provided by Employers

Where a person is responsible for paying the Council Tax for their main home and a second home, one of which has been provided by their employer and where they are required to live for the better performance of their duties, the second home receives a 50% discount.

To qualify for a job-related Council Tax discount the following criteria must be satisfied:

• The property must have been provided by an employer and it must state in the contract of employment that there is a requirement to reside in the property
• The property must be unoccupied and furnished
• The property must be in England, Wales or Scotland
• The taxpayer must be liable for Council Tax in both properties (except ministers of religion and armed forces personnel).

If this applies to you please contact us and provide a copy of your contract of employment.

If a property is a chalet which cannot be occupied for a period of at least 28 consecutive days during each year due to planning conditions, the reduction will be 50%. For the period when occupancy is prohibited the chalet is exempt from Council Tax.

If someone is a minister of religion and lives in a property provided by the church but is also responsible for the Council Tax on another property, they will be entitled to a 50% reduction on their other property.

To apply for a discount on a furnished dwelling that is not a sole or main residence please download the following form available in two formats.

Unoccupied Dwelling Discount Application Form, Word format
Unoccupied Dwelling Discount Application Form, PDF format

The Council Tax Section
Dover District Council
White Cliffs Business Park
Dover
Kent
CT16 3PJ

Tel 01304 872199

Discounts are reviewed regularly in the year and visits are made where appropriate to verify that discounts should continue.

Contact Council Tax

Tel: 01304 872199

Email: council.tax@dover.gov.uk