South Lakeland District Council is consulting on proposals to change the level of council tax on vacant properties

South Lakeland District Council is consulting plans to change the level of council tax discounts and premia on empty properties. A meeting of SLDC’s Cabinet was told that introducing the changes would assist in encouraging owners of empty properties to bring them back into use. Currently, an unoccupied and unfurnished house receives a 100 per cent council tax discount for six months and it is proposed to reduce that to a 100 per cent discount for 28 days. Properties empty for major works currently receive a 100 per cent discount for 12 months and it is proposed that there be no discount. Charges on homes which have been empty for over two years are currently 150 per cent Council Tax (100 per cent charge plus 50 per cent empty homes premium).

It is proposed that 200 per cent Council Tax is payable on these properties from 1 April 2021, with further increases from 1 April 2022 and 1 April 2022, dependent on how long the property has been empty for.