Lime Solicitors has raised concerns about some councils applying the second home premium immediately after a death.
Typically, a six-month grace period is given where council tax isn’t charged on properties left empty due to the owner’s death.
However, obtaining probate, selling the property, and completing conveyancing often takes longer, leaving families vulnerable to unexpected charges.
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The warning follows an incident where the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk imposed a second home levy on an estate property not used as a second home.
The six-month exemption didn’t apply here as the property was legally in the son’s name when the owner died, leading the council to consider it a second home.
Andrew Wilkinson, head of inheritance disputes at Lime Solicitors, described the decision as “incredibly harsh”.
He said: “It’s deeply concerning to see councils imposing hefty council tax bills on grieving families who are already navigating the complex probate process.”
The warning comes as part of a nationwide crackdown on second homes, with more than 200 councils now having the power to levy a 100 per cent council tax premium on properties that are furnished but not the owner’s main residence.
