Cabinet has agreed to consult on proposals to increase the level of council tax premiums for long-term empty properties and make use of additional intervention powers to tackle properties that have remained empty for several years, for the benefit of communities.
An officer report to Cabinet on Wednesday, July 17, proposed the measures as part of a wider strategy to bring long-term empty homes back into use, to provide safe, secure and affordable homes – and to increase the supply of affordable housing and enhance the sustainability of local communities. It is also important to tackle empty homes as they are a financial expense, their appearance can be unsightly, and they can attract anti-social behaviour.
Since April 2017, councils in Wales have, on a discretionary basis, been able to charge premiums of up to 100% on top of the standard rate of council tax on second homes and long-term empty properties. These regulations were then updated in April 2023, increasing the potential premium to 300%.
In April 2023, following a public consultation, the Council introduced a premium of 50% for long-term empty properties that have been empty for between one and two years, and 100% for properties that are empty for more than two years – while also introducing a 100% premium for second homes.
On Wednesday, officers presented proposals to increase local council tax premiums to 100% for properties empty for between one and three years, along with a proposed 200% premium for those that are empty for more than three years. These would be introduced on April 1, 2025.
Existing exceptions from council tax premiums would continue – for example, where properties are reasonably marketed for let or sale, then the premium would not be added to the council tax bill for a maximum period of one year. In addition, no premiums will be charged where a property is exempt from council tax – where they are undergoing repair or structural alterations, where unoccupied houses are owned by a charity, or where a property owner has recently passed away.
The Council has made good progress to tackle empty homes through its Empty Homes Strategy (2022-2025), which followed a previous strategy that ran since 2017. It recognises the number of empty homes and commits the Council to addressing the problem with targeted interventions. Since the implementation of both strategies, empty homes have reduced by 922.
On Wednesday, Cabinet agreed with officer recommendations to initiate a consultation exercise on the proposals to increase the level of council tax premiums. As part of the consultation, feedback will also be gained on the option of further intervention measures in instances where there is no realistic prospect of an owner taking action to bring a property back into use. This could be through the use of a Compulsory Purchase Order, where the Council would take control of a property and work with the local housing sector to bring it back into use.
The six-week consultation will take place in summer 2024 and will include the Council writing directly to empty property owners to invite their feedback. Officers will present a report outlining this feedback to a future meeting of Cabinet, for Members to make a final decision on whether to recommend the proposals to full Council.
Councillor Mark Norris, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Development and Prosperity, said: “The Council has made very good progress in bringing 922 long-term empty properties back into use since 2017, through a clear and agreed strategy which includes targeted interventions to encourage property owners to take action. We remain committed to this action to support our local housing need, and to prevent the blight within our wider communities – including the local environment and neighbouring properties.
“While our efforts have so far made a clear difference, we understand that even more needs to be done as there still remains more than 1,500 long-term empty properties in Rhondda Cynon Taf. That is why officers have brought forward further proposals that would effectively double the normal council tax level for properties that have remained empty between one or two years, and treble the level for those that have remained empty for more than three years.
“Cabinet has now agreed to a consultation on these changes, which will take place this summer. It will also ask residents and homeowners about the use of potential of further interventions in cases where no cooperation is being given and the prospect of bringing a property back into use is small. As an example, 230 properties have remained empty for more than 10 years, which is unacceptable.
“Significant support is available to owners of empty properties to bring them back into use through the RCT Empty Homes Strategy. The Council has also shown its commitment to reducing empty properties in recent years at a regional level by leading on the Valleys Taskforce Empty Homes Grant Scheme. We have also supported the Houses into Homes and Homestep Plus schemes, hosted the RCT Landlord Forum, and worked with Registered Social Landlords to bring unused town centre commercial space into use.”
Posted on 24/07/2024