Decision details

Report FSD21003

The Executive considered proposals to increase the Empty Homes Premium from April 2021 to the maximum premium permitted under the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018. A public consultation exercise had been carried out, the results of which were set out in the report. Although Members considered that there was a strong case for increasing the premium it was considered that, given the impact of the pandemic, now was not the right time to do so.

The report had been scrutinised by the Executive, Resources and Contracts PDS Committee on 6^th January 2021 and the Committee supported the recommendations.

RESOLVED that

(1) The responses to the public consultation exercise at Appendix 1 to the report be noted.

(2) The Equality Impact Assessment at Appendix 2 to the report be noted.

(3) The proposed increase to the Empty Homes Premium to 100% for properties empty longer than 2 years, increasing to 200% where the property has been empty for five years and 300% when the property has been empty over ten years, be noted.

(4) In view of the uncertainty on owners’ ability to sell or bring the empty property back into occupation due to the impact of the pandemic, the decision to make any changes to the current levels of premium be deferred for one year.