Purpose

This item seeks to gain agreement for the Council to amend the
current Council Tax discounts and exemptions applied to empty
properties from 1st April 2024. The reason for this decision is to
encourage owners to bring back properties into use and increase the
availability of homes in the borough.

The proposal also seeks to provide notice that the Council intends
introduce from 1st April 2025 to levy an additional Council Tax
premium on second homes in the borough.

Content

DECISION:
 

1.   
Reduce the current 100% discount awarded to unoccupied and
unfurnished and uninhabitable dwellings is reduced to zero (0%) for
the financial year 2024/25 onwards.

2.   
From 1st April 2024, amend the application of the
levy of 100% premium for long-term empty properties to 1 year
reducing this from the current 2 years.

3.   
From 1st April 2024 levy an additional premium on
long-term empty property vacant for over 5 years at the maximum
permitted level of 200%. The resulting charge will be 300% of the
standard council tax.

4.   
From 1st April 2024 levy an additional premium on
long-term empty property vacant for over 10 years at the maximum
permitted level of 300%. The resulting charge will be 400% of the
standard council tax.

5.   
Council be given the discretion, delegated to the Head of
Revenues and Benefits to reduce or waive the long-term empty
premium charge in exceptional circumstances.

6.   
Give 12 months’ notice that the Council will introduce
a second home premium of 100% from 1st April
2025.
 
Action by
CORPORATE DIRECTOR RESOURCES (J.
LORRAINE)
Interim Director of Finance, Procurement and Audit (J.
Harrison)
Head of Strategic Finance (C. Leslie)