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Government to introduce empty homes bill
The government is set to introduce a bill to parliament today to try and bring thousands of empty homes across England back into use.
The Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Bill will allow councils to charge double the rate of council tax on homes left empty for two years or more.
There are currently just over 200,000 long-term empty homes in England. The number has dropped since records began in 2004, when there were more than 300,000 empty homes, but has recently risen since the lowest number on record in October 2016, when there were 200,145 empty homes. In 2013 councils were given the power to charge a 50% premium on council tax bills. Out of the 326 English councils 89% charged the 50% premium on empty homes in 2017-18.
There are exemptions in the bill for homes that are empty due to the occupant living in armed forces accommodation or for annexes that are being used as part of a main home.
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Councils also have powers to apply discounts in cases where homes are empty due to special circumstances – for example, hardship, fire or flooding.
There is a council tax exemption for homes which are empty due to probate.
The New Homes Bonus also allows councils to earn the same financial reward for bringing an empty home back into use as for building a new home.
Councils will be able to use the funds raised from the increased council tax to keep council tax levels down across their areas, a government spokesperson said.
Rishi Sunak, minister at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, said: “It is simply wrong that, while there are 200,000 long-term empty properties across the country, thousands of families are desperate for a secure place to call home.
“This new power will equip councils with the tools they need to encourage owners of long-term empty properties to bring them back into use – and at the same time tackle the harmful effect they have on communities through squatting, vandalism and anti-social behaviour.”
