Issue - meetings

Cabinet, at its meeting on 18 December 2018, will consider a report on the level of premium to be applied to long-term empty dwellings.

The report of the head of finance, which Cabinet will consider on 18 December, is attached.

The recommendations of Cabinet will be circulated to all councillors on 19 December.

Council considered Cabinet’s recommendations, made at its meeting on 18 December 2018, on the level of premium to be applied to long-term empty dwellings.

RESOLVED:  that in accordance with the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018 the Long Term Empty Property Premium (currently set at a 50%) is:

(i)        increased to 100% from 1 April 2019 for those properties which are empty for two years and over;

(ii)       increased to 200% premium from 1 April 2020 for those properties which are empty for five years and over;

(iii)      increased to 300% premium from 1 April 2021 for those properties which are empty for 10 years and over. 

To consider the head of finance’s report. 

Cabinet considered the head of finance’s report on a council tax premium on empty homes. 

The Cabinet member for finance reported that new legislation had been passed that allowed councils to apply a higher premium on council tax due on long-term empty homes.  He advised Cabinet to recommend Council to charge the premiums permitted by the legislation. 

Cabinet supported the recommendation, believing that this would encourage the owners of empty homes to bring them back into occupation and increase the supply of homes available. 

RECOMMENDED to Council:

that in accordance with the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018, the Long Term Empty Property Premium (currently set at a 50%) is:

(i)        increased to 100% from 1 April 2019 for those properties which are empty for two years and over;

(ii)       increased to 200% premium from 1 April 2020 for those properties which are empty for five years and over; and

(iii)      increased to 300% premium from 1 April 2021 for those properties which are empty for ten years and over.