As of the 1^st April 2025 anyone who owns a second home in Brent will be required to pay a Council Tax premium.

The new charge will match the one introduced in 2024 for homes that have been left empty for more than a year and is the maximum increase permitted under existing legislation.

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

Cllr Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Customer Experience, Resident Support and Culture at Brent Council, said: “Britain’s broken housing system means that we are struggling to keep pace with the numbers of homeless families approaching us for help.

“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.”

Council tax premium rates from 1 April 2025