Proposal to deal with empty properties
Posted on Friday tenth November 2023
Newport Metropolis Council’s cupboard will subsequent week take into account a proposal to ask folks’s views on introducing a premium on council tax for long-term empty and second properties solely.
Demand for inexpensive housing is outstripping provide however there are greater than 800 properties within the metropolis which have been unoccupied for no less than a yr and 15 second properties.
In March, greater than 450 households have been in non permanent lodging. There are greater than 9,000 folks registered for social housing however in 2021/22 there have been simply 686 new social housing lettings.
As a part of the council’s willpower to deal with homelessness, it desires to see a rise within the availability of fine high quality and inexpensive housing.
Efforts have been made to encourage the house owners of empty properties to deliver them again into useful use, however this has had restricted success.
In April 2019, the council eliminated a discretionary low cost on empty properties and, other than statutory exemptions, reductions will not be allowed.
Councils are allowed to cost a council tax premium of as much as 300 per cent and most throughout Wales have already began, or are attributable to begin, making a cost.
A 100 per cent premium would successfully double the quantity of normal council tax for a property.
The council has needed to make investments considerably in housing providers over the previous few years because it offers with the elevated demand. If the proposal is permitted, the complete quantity of the council tax premium could be retained by the council and would contribute in the direction of housing associated spending.
Cupboard will determine whether or not to carry a public session at its assembly on Wednesday. It’ll take into account responses later within the yr earlier than deciding whether or not to ask the complete council to introduce the scheme.
