Purpose

The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act came
into force on 26 October 2023. The Act allows Council's to charge
higher Council Tax on properties that are defined as long term
empty homes and properties that are only occupied occasionally
(second homes).
The additional charge is intended to encourage owners to bring
properties back into use and could boost the supply of properties
in the borough.

Content

RESOLVED

That Full Council be recommended to:

a)        
approve a Premium of 100% for dwellings which are
unoccupied and substantially unfurnished (Empty Homes Premium)
after 1 year, instead of two years from 1 April 2025;

b)        
approve the application of a premium for dwellings
Occupied Periodically (Second Homes) charged at 100% (twice the
current Council Tax Amount) from 1 April 2025;
 
c)        
delegate authority to the Head of Corporate Finance
(Section 151 Officer) to implement this Council’s policy on
premiums in line with statute and any subsequent guidance issued by
the Secretary of State following the outcome of the consultation
(Appendix A of report FIN/648) which recommends exceptions to the
second homes premium in certain circumstances.

Reasons for the
Recommendations

The Council declared
a housing emergency at the Full Council meeting on 21 February
2024.  The aim of the introducing a
council tax premium on long term empty homes and second homes is to
reduce the number of empty homes within the Borough and to
encourage the use of premises as main residences by local residents
rather than second homes.