Homeowners could face increases of 300 per cent to their council tax bill if their property is empty. Depending on how long a property has been empty, an individual is expected to pay a premium on the council tax for the empty home.
However, Newark and Sherwood District Council’s cabinet has recently passed proposals to widen the scope of the Empty Homes Council Tax Premium to include homes left empty for more than 12 months. This premium was originally introduced by the council to encourage property owners to get empty uninhabitated homes back into use.
In the past, around 267 unoccupied properties were levied with the premium, which was charged to any property left empty for more than two years. The premium increases if properties are left unoccupied for longer periods, with those which have been empty for ten years or more facing a 300 per cent increase to their Council Tax bill.
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Now, the premium will be applied to homes left unoccupied for more than 12 months, with homeowners facing a 100 per cent increase to their Council Tax bills. This change is likely to affect hundreds of people, as it is predicted that this will bring 748 properties into the scope of the scheme.
The council hopes that this will prompt property owners to bring unused housing back into use across the District. This scheme also follows the Levelling up and Regeneration Act 2023, which allows local authorities to charge this premium with discretion, although they should consider exceptional circumstances as exempt.
Councillor Paul Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Community Relations at Newark and Sherwood District Council, supported the proposal, “This the right measure, we need to get empty properties occupied and used again. This country faces a huge housing shortage with waiting lists for social housing and house prices leaving many people unable to get a foot on the property ladder. In this context, where we desperately need to be able to offer affordable housing to residents, it seems sensible to encourage property owners to bring empty properties back to being used.”
He added: “Bringing empty properties back into use not only provides much needed housing for residents, but also helps to keep the communities where they are located vibrant and healthy.” The new measures will introduced from April 1, 2024 until March 31, 2025.
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