Council Tax Premium on second homes and long term empty homes

Council Tax Premium on second homes and long term empty homes

Councillors will be asked to decide on the level of Council Tax Premium on second homes and long term empty homes in Conwy County for 2024/25 at meetings over the next few weeks.

Members and Council Officers have been carefully considering the implications, risks and consequences associated with various options for council tax premiums that might be applied. The public were also asked their opinions in a consultation which took place between 5 June 2023 and 14 July 2023 when 373 responses were received.

Now Councillors will be asked to decide whether to accept the recommendations from the Affordable Housing (Council Tax Premium) Working Group which met earlier this year:

• To charge a 100% Council Tax Premium for both second homes and long term empty homes from April 2024.
• To recommend an indicative level of premium of 200% on both categories from 1st April 2025, with the introduction of an increased premium of 300% for long-term empty properties which have been empty for 5 years or more, subject to review during 2024/2025

The reports going before Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Cabinet and then Full Council, set out the deliberations of the working group when considering the impact of Premiums.

The Premiums are a tool for local authorities designed to encourage owners to bring empty properties into use, to support the increase of affordable housing for purchase or to let and to enhance the sustainability of local communities.

Councillor Nigel Smith, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Economy, which includes the Revenue and Benefits Service, said, “We have to consider this difficult subject in the context of the impact various options will have. Ultimately it’s about increasing the supply of affordable housing, helping meet local housing need and enhancing the sustainability of local communities. It’s important to remember that any additional revenue generated from the premiums continues to be used to support the Council’s Housing budget, which faces significant, increasing pressures.”

There are a range of measures available to help support anyone with an empty home to bring it back into use. Owners are encouraged to contact the Council’s housing team: emptyhomes@conwy.gov.uk or call 01492 574235.

The report about Premiums will be discussed by the Council’s Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee (2 October – watch the meeting here: Conwy Local Democracy : Agenda for Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday, 2 October 2023, 10.00 am ) and will go to Cabinet (10 October) before a final decision is made by Council (19 October).