WOKINGHAM homes that have been empty for at least two years will have to pay at least double the usual council tax rate – with charges increasing the longer they are left empty.
Introducing the council tax base rate for 2023/24 – the number of houses that will help set the bill for residents from April – Cllr Imogen Shepherd-Dubey made the promise that unoccupied properties will pay three times the cost if a home is empty for five years or more, and four times if they are empty for 10 years or more.
This is estimated to raise £100,000 of additional income.
“This is designed to encourage homeowners to either rent or sell their empty homes and bring them back into much needed residential use,” Cllr Shepherd-Dubey said, adding there would be some exemptions, including if the owner is in the armed forced, or prison, or if the home is on the market.
The council is also planning to boost its council tax support scheme by an additional £100,000 so it stays in sync with increases in Universal Credit and similar benefits.
“We have agreed to add an extra £250,000 to our budget for next year in order to support these struggling households,” she added. “This money will be used to support our own benefit schemes and some of it will be given to our charitable partners when they are better placed to provide that help.”
She made the comments at a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council on Thursday, January 19.
