Have your say on Council Tax premiums for second homes and long-term empty homes in Conwy County

Have your say on Council Tax premiums for second homes and long-term empty homes in Conwy County

Conwy County Borough Council is carrying out a survey about the Council Tax premiums to be levied on second homes and long-term empty properties for 2025/26.

The premium is designed to encourage owners to bring empty properties into use and support the increase of affordable housing for purchase or let in local communities. 

At a meeting in October 2023 councillors approved an indicative increase to the level of premium on second homes and long-term empty homes from 100% to 200% from 1 April 2025, subject to a review during 2024/25. Any properties that have been empty for 5 years or more would be subject to a 300% premium.

The Council is getting in touch direct with everyone in the County registered as owning a second or empty home to ask them their opinion. They are also asking people who don’t own these kinds of properties to give their views. Anyone can fill in the survey and let the Council know what they think the effect of these additional premiums could be on things like the availability of properties, the housing market and the Welsh language.

Councillor Nigel Smith, Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Economy which includes the Revenue and Benefits Service, is urging people to let the Council know their opinion. He said, “We want to encourage owners to bring empty properties back into use to increase the supply of homes in our communities. Many of these properties are in Council Tax Band A-D, so in the more affordable range. It’s not about raising income - once an empty home is brought back into use, the extra premium doesn’t apply. Any additional income currently generated goes directly to support the pressures on Council’s housing budget.”

The results of the survey and other research, will be taken into account by Councillors later this year when they consider the final decision about what premium to apply.

The consultation closes on 18 August and is available here: Council Tax Premiums Consultation - Conwy County Borough Council