Agenda item

Report of the Managing Director.

The Cabinet Member with the Efficiency and Resources Portfolio introduced the report of the Managing Director (previously circulated)requesting that consideration be given to proposed changes to the Council Tax empty property premium.

The submitted report stated that a 50 per cent Council Tax premium was introduced in April 2013 for all unoccupied and unfurnished domestic properties which had been empty for two or more years; new legislation was introduced in November 2018 allowing Councils to increase the Council Tax premium; consultation had been undertaken with long-term empty properties on the proposals; and that the Efficiency and Resource Scrutiny Committee had considered the proposals and no amendments were proposed.

RESOLVED - (a)  That the responses to the consultation, as as set out in Appendix 1 of the submitted report, be noted.

b)  That it be recommended to Council that the proposed changes to the Council Tax empty property premium from April 2020, be approved and adopted, including:-

      (i)          increasing the Council Tax premium for properties empty for two years or more to 100 per cent from April 2020;

     (ii)          increasing the Council Tax premium for properties empty for five years or more to 200 per cent from April 2020;

   (iii)          increasing the Council Tax premium for properties empty for ten years or more to 300 per centre from April 2021; and

   (iv)          providing protection for those owners who were making genuine efforts to bring their long-term empty properties back into use.

REASONS - (a)  To further encourage landlords and property owners to bring their empty homes back into use as soon as possible.

(b)  To reduce the detrimental impact long-term empty properties can have on other nearby properties and local communities.

(c)  To increase the supply of much needed housing in Darlington, as most long?term empty properties could be brought back into use as affordable homes.

(d)  To penalise those owners who deliberately leave their properties empty for years.