Decision details
Increasing council tax payments on empty properties
PDF 67 KBDecision Maker: Cabinet member finance and corporate services
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Purpose:
To increase the council tax charge on empty properties.
Currently Herefordshire Council imposes a 50% premium council tax charge on unfurnished property empty for more than two years. This premium is proposed to increase to 100% from 1 April 2019. This is to encourage returning empty properties back into occupation.
Additionally it is proposed to increase the premium charge to 200% from 1 April 2020 if the property has been empty for more than five years and up to 300% from 1 April 2021 if the home has been empty for more than ten years.
Decision:
That:
(a) The empty property council tax premium charge is increased as follows:-
a. 100% premium council tax charge on unfurnished property empty for more than two years from 1 April 2019 (this is currently 50%);
b. to increase the premium charge to 200% from 1 April 2020 if the property has been empty for more than five years;
c. and up to 300% from 1 April 2021 if the home has been empty for more than ten years.
Alternative options considered:
1. The current premium charge could be retained. This is not recommended because to increase the premium charge is expected to increase the incentive for owners to bring empty properties back into use.
2. A lower level of premium charge could be levied. This is not recommended because the premiums proposed are the maximum charges permitted under current legislation in order to incentivise owners to bring empty properties back in to use.
Wards Affected: (All Wards);
Contact: Josie Rushgrove, Head of corporate finance Email: jrushgrove@herefordshire.gov.uk Tel: 01432 261867.
Publication date: 26/02/2019
Date of decision: 26/02/2019
Effective from: 05/03/2019
Accompanying Documents: