Council tax consultation 2024

We would like to hear what you think about potential changes to council tax discounts, and premiums on both empty properties and second homes.

We all know there’s an ever-increasing demand for housing, both in our borough and on a national scale. While building new homes is a challenging solution in the current climate, it is important to explore other avenues to meet housing demand.

One such avenue is to make more of existing homes by bringing empty homes back into use. That’s why we are looking at ways to discourage properties from being left sitting empty.

Long term empty properties are shutting local families and young people out of the housing market as they are being denied the opportunity to rent or buy in their own community. And as the number of empty properties within an area increase, so can the incidence of vandalism.

As part of this work, we are looking at council tax discounts and where we can remove discounts and apply premiums to second and empty home-owners.

This set of proposals would increase the amount of council tax paid by owners of long-term empty properties and second homes. Any additional income we receive will be ploughed back into improving and protecting your public services.

Proposals

Proposal 1: Second Homes
People who have a second home* that is furnished but unoccupied would pay double council tax from the 1st April 2026

*A second home is a house that is furnished but not used as someone’s main residence.

What currently happens?
People who own second homes that are furnished and unoccupied pay the standard rate of council tax.

Proposal 2: Major repairs
People who are doing major repairs* to an empty property would pay full council tax.

*Major repairs means the property is unoccupied, substantially unfurnished and requiring or undergoing significant structural alterations or major repair.

What currently happens?
People who are doing major repairs to empty properties receive 50% discount on their council tax for 12 months.

Proposal 3: Empty properties
People who own a property that is unoccupied and substantially unfurnished would pay full council tax from the point they own the property.

What currently happens?
People who own an unoccupied and unfurnished property pay no council tax for one month.

We would be grateful if you could please complete the survey using this link (surveymonkey.com). The deadline to complete the survey is Friday 3 January 2025.

Thank you, your opinion matters, and it can help shape how council tax is calculated.

Last updated: 16:47 18/12/2024