The Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Bill which will allow councils to charge double the rate of Council Tax on homes left empty for years has been debated in Parliament. Local authorities can currently levy a 50% premium.
Housing Minister Dominic Raab said: ‘Owners of long-term empty homes should be incentivised to bring them back into use and that is why in 2013 we enabled councils to charge the full rate of council tax on empty properties. We have also put in place powers for local authorities to charge a council tax premium of up to 50% on homes that have been vacant for two years or more’. Measures to bring homes into use should prevent heritage assets from falling into disrepair.