Agenda item

Council considered a report presented by Councillor Clive Moesby Portfolio Holder for Resources, which sought approval for the introduction of a premium on top of the standard Council Tax charge for long-term empty properties to act as an incentive to bring empty homes back into use and occupation.  There was a shortage of housing stock in the United Kingdom and this legislation provided district and unitary councils discretionary powers to charge a premium above the standard council tax on properties that have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for a significant period of time.  This was known as the Empty Properties Premium. Members attention was drawn to the information in the report and Councillor Moesby made specific reference to the following:

·       The number of years the property was empty and maximum premium that could be charged in Table 1.

·       The exemptions from Council Tax by virtue of the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992 (as amended) as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report for example an individual working abroad as part of the armed forces.

·       The additional exemptions arising from the Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings and Consequential Amendments) (England) Regulations 2024 which came into force on 1^st November 2024.

Bolsover District Council was one of the few councils that had not charged the premium. The intention was to encourage owners to bring back their properties into use, increase the supply of available housing and reduce the potential impact of anti-social behaviour associated with some empty properties. It was proposed to implement this from April 2026 to provide sufficient notice to ensure potential affected parties to be made aware of the premium, but also to given them sufficient time to bring their properties back into beneficial use.

It was confirmed that the empty homes premium applied to unoccupied and substantially unfurnished homes which had been empty for six months or more.  Second homes were not included and there was no statutory definition on what was classed as furnished or unfurnished.  It would be a matter for officers to inspect premises and decide whether it could be lived in as it stood in which case the premium would not apply.

Moved by Councillor Clive Moesby and seconded by Councillor Duncan McGregor and following a vote

For the motion: Unanimous

Against the motion: 0

Abstentions: 0

RESOLVED that (1) the Empty Homes Premium be introduced with effect from

          1^st April 2026;

(2)  the maximum Empty Homes Premium permitted under legislation be introduced as follows:

(a)    Where the property has been “unoccupied and substantially unfurnished” for 1 year but less than 5 years, a 100% premium Council Tax rate will apply subject to the statutory exemptions.  (This means that the owner would be liable to pay twice the normal rate, 200% as a percentage of the standard bill).

(b)        Where the property has been “unoccupied and substantially unfurnished” for 5 years but less than 10 years, a 200% premium Council Tax rate will apply subject to the statutory exemptions.  (This means that the owner would be liable to pay three times the normal rate, 300% as a percentage of the standard bill).

(c)    Where the property has been “unoccupied and substantially unfurnished” for at least 10 years, a 300% premium Council Tax rate will apply subject to the statutory exemptions.  (This means that the owner would be liable to pay four times the normal rate, 400% as a percentage of the standard bill).