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MPs to debate empty homes bill
A bill that will give councils powers to bring thousands of empty homes across England back into use will be debated in parliament today.
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 or more years.
There are currently just over 200,000 long-term empty homes in England. This figure has dropped from 300,000 in 2004, but has risen since the lowest number was recorded in October 2016, at 200,145.
Since 2013 councils have had powers to charge a 50% premium on council tax bills. A government spokesperson said 89% of English councils used these powers in 2017-2018. The new bill will increase the levies councils can charge.
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Rishi Sunak, a junior minister at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, said: “While we should celebrate the number of long-term empty homes dropping by a third since 2010, there are still 200,000 vacant properties across the country.”
“This bill hands councils further tools to bring much-needed homes back into use and provide thousands of families with a place to call home.”
Homes that are empty due to the occupant living in armed forces accommodation, annexes that are part of a main property, or buildings in other special circumstances such as fire or flooding will be exempt from the tax. The government has said it will use the funds to keep council tax levels lower for working families.
The bill was introduced and passed its first reading on 28 March.
