Newark and Sherwood District Council’s cabinet recommend to full council that homes empty for a year be charge additional 100 percent council tax
This week Newark and Sherwood District Council’s cabinet met to discuss proposals which would see homes that have been empty for more than a year charged a premium council tax rate.
The plans came before the authority as it attempts to reduce the number of empty homes in the district by encouraging owners to open them up for use again.
Currently the council charges 100 per cent extra rates on homes which have been empty for more than two years, but the new plans would cut the requirement in half.
These additional rates increase to 200 per cent for properties empty for more than five years, and 300 per cent for properties empty for over 10 years.
As of October last year, there were were 748 properties across the district which have been empty for between one and two years.
Since last April, 267 of these properties have been charged a combined total of £1.14m — of which £591,824 comes from additional premium charges.
This additional income would be split in the same way as regular council tax, between Newark and Sherwood District Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, the Nottinghamshire Police, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and the relevant town or parish council.
Once a property become occupied the additional tax levy will them be removed.
The portfolio holder for public protection and community relations, Paul Taylor, supported the proposals but questioned if there would be exceptions to the rule, such as when a property remains empty during probate.
In response, council leader Paul Peacock gave reassurance that discretion would be used and that under certain circumstances the rule could be waved.
Mr Peacock encouraged those with a special circumstance who are able to provide evidence to enter into a conversation with the council.
Cabinet members voted to recommend that the full council approve the proposals, which would come into effect from April 1.
