Fareham second home council tax

Fareham 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.

£2,271

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

£4,541

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

274

homes classed as second homes on Fareham's tax base at October 2025; 97 paying the premium, 5 in an exception class.

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

BandNormal billAs a second home
A£1,514£3,027
B£1,766£3,532
C£2,018£4,037
D£2,271£4,541
E£2,775£5,550
F£3,280£6,559
G£3,784£7,569
H£4,541£9,082

Estimated from the council's average Band D. Your parish precept changes the figure slightly. The Fareham council element (including parish) rose 3.0% from 2025/26 to 2026/27.

Empty homes premium in Fareham

Fareham charged an empty homes premium at October 2025 on 321 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 Fareham

The 2026 business rates list has 24 self-catering holiday lets in Fareham, with a median rateable value of £2,213; 96% 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 Fareham 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 Fareham, see licensing in Fareham and the landlord database (your region: South East, register by 14 June 2027).

Question about a property in Fareham?

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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 Fareham Borough Council.

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