The extra council tax for empty homes in Oxford is expected to raise almost £1 million in the 2025/26 financial year, new figures reveal, according to local democracy reporter Esme Kenney.
Oxford City Council introduced an empty homes council tax premium in April 2024 for properties that have been empty and unfurnished for more than a year, aiming to encourage owners to bring homes back into use amid the city’s growing housing demand.
Figures obtained by Kenney via a Freedom of Information request submitted to the Local Democracy Reporting Service show the council expects to raise £952,178.82 from the premium this year. In 2024/25, it raised £647,216.24.
Under the scheme, homes empty for more than a year pay a 100 per cent premium on top of council tax. Those empty for more than five years face a 200 per cent premium, while homes vacant for more than ten years are charged 300 per cent.
Councillor Ed Turner, cabinet member for finance and deputy leader of the city council, welcomed the measure. “Given the scale of the housing shortage in Oxford, homes should not be sitting empty without reason, and this provides an incentive for owners to get them occupied,” he said. “The extra funding is also useful. Similarly, we were one of the first councils to call for and implement the additional council tax on second homes.”
A property is considered empty for council tax purposes from the date it becomes unoccupied, and this status remains despite changes of ownership or tenancy.
Kenney’s FOI reporting also revealed 608 registered empty homes in Oxford, although 489 of these are currently exempt from paying the premium. Exemptions are granted when properties are actively marketed for sale or rent, or in cases such as the owner’s death.
Turner said: “I am not surprised there are quite a few properties exempt. It’s in the nature of things that many properties will fall into these categories, and in truth property in Oxford is such a valuable asset that most owners would not wish it to be empty.”
Not all council tax income remains with the city council, with a share going to Oxfordshire County Council and the police. A council spokesperson said: “Council tax forms part of the council’s overall income. Separate elements of the overall council tax income are not ringfenced for specific purposes. Council tax income is used to support the provision of the council’s services.”
The council also introduced a 100 per cent council tax premium on second homes in April 2025, which is expected to raise £1.8 million in this financial year. There are currently 1,100 registered second homes in Oxford.
