Dudley second home council tax

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council was charging a 100% premium on second homes at 6 October 2025, so a furnished home that is nobody's main residence pays 2× the normal council tax.

£2,145

Average Band D council tax in Dudley, 2026/27, including county, police, fire and average parish precepts.

£4,290

Band D as a second home with the 100% premium.

255

homes classed as second homes on Dudley's tax base at October 2025; 153 paying the premium.

Second home bill by band in Dudley (2026/27 estimate)

BandNormal billAs a second home
A£1,430£2,860
B£1,668£3,336
C£1,907£3,813
D£2,145£4,290
E£2,621£5,243
F£3,098£6,196
G£3,575£7,149
H£4,290£8,579

Estimated from the council's average Band D. Your parish precept changes the figure slightly. The Dudley council element (including parish) rose 5.0% from 2025/26 to 2026/27.

Empty homes premium in Dudley

Dudley charged an empty homes premium at October 2025 on 1,022 long-term empty homes. Premium rates recorded by MHCLG:

Empty forPremium
1–2 years100%
2–5 years100%
5–10 years200%
10 years +300%

Holiday lets on business rates in Dudley

The 2026 business rates list has 24 self-catering holiday lets in Dudley, with a median rateable value of £2,100; 100% have a rateable value of £12,000 or less. A holiday let pays business rates instead of council tax if it was available to let for at least 140 nights and actually let for at least 70 nights in the last 12 months.

Exceptions you can apply for

The premium should not apply if the home falls in a national exception class, for example: an annexe (Class F), actively marketed for sale or let (Classes G and H, up to 12 months), recently granted probate (Class I, up to 12 months), a job-related home (Class J), or a seasonal home that planning rules stop being used as a main home (Class L). Apply to Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council with evidence. All exception classes and rules.

If the property is let to a tenant as their main home, it is not a second home. For landlord duties in Dudley, see licensing in Dudley and the landlord database (your region: West Midlands, register by 14 March 2027).

Question about a property in Dudley?

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Check a postcode

Licensing, database deadline, EPC and council tax for one address: postcode check.

Related guides

Sources

Data: MHCLG Council Tax levels 2026-27 (Table 10); Council Taxbase 2025 (at 6 October 2025); VOA 2026 rating list. Premium status as at those dates; confirm the current position with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.

Last checked 28 Sep 2026. Information, not legal advice. Official pages change; follow the source link before you act.