How long is a home exempt from Council Tax after a death?
A home left empty after the sole occupier has died is exempt from Council Tax under Class F, and the exemption continues while probate is obtained and for a set period after the grant. It ends if the property is sold, transferred or reoccupied. The executor keeps the council informed.
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Check what you're owed →Class F is one of the most useful exemptions because it gives an estate breathing space. As long as the property stays empty and the person who died was solely responsible for the Council Tax, no charge applies. This avoids the estate paying while it cannot yet deal with the home.
The exemption has two phases: it runs while probate or letters of administration are being sought, and then continues for a defined period after the grant is issued, provided the home remains empty and in the estate. Once the property is sold, passed to a beneficiary or someone moves in, the exemption stops.
The most common pitfall is forgetting to tell the council when probate is granted or when the home is sold, which can leave the wrong charge in place. Keeping the council updated at each stage ensures the exemption runs for exactly the right time and the estate is not overcharged.
How the Class F exemption is managed
- Report the death. Tell the council the date of death and that the home is now empty.
- Confirm sole liability. Confirm the person who died was the only one responsible for the Council Tax.
- Update on probate. Inform the council when probate or letters of administration are granted.
- Report the end. Tell the council when the property is sold, transferred or reoccupied so the charge restarts.
Frequently asked questions
- When does Class F start?
- From the date the property becomes empty after the sole liable occupier dies, provided no one else is living there.
- How long does it last after probate?
- It continues for a defined period after the grant of probate or letters of administration, as long as the home stays empty and within the estate.
- What ends the exemption?
- Selling the property, transferring it to a beneficiary, or someone moving in. The executor should tell the council when any of these happen.
- Who is responsible for telling the council?
- The executor or administrator handling the estate, as part of settling the deceased person affairs.
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