What is the Welsh Government's definition of habitable, in regard to long-term empty properties?
Answered by Minister for Finance and Local Government | Answered on 15/01/2024
Under council tax legislation a property which is vacant and requires or is undergoing major repair work or structural alteration to render it habitable can be exempt for a 12-month period. In this regard the legislation does not further define habitable.
The council tax legislation defines a ‘long-term empty property’ as one that is unoccupied for a period of one year or more and is substantially unfurnished. The definition of habitable does not relate to long-term empty properties.