Council tax blow for empty Hyndburn homes

5:00pm Friday 26th October 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Emma Cruces, Reporter

A COUNCIL tax rates overhaul could see the owners of long-term empty homes penalised.

Hyndburn Council has drafted plans that will not only remove council tax exemption for empty prop-erties, but bring in a premium rate of 150per cent after two years.

Deputy leader Clare Pritchard said she hoped it would end ‘chronic’ problems where whole neighbourhoods suffer anti-social behaviour, vandalism, fly tipping, and falling house prices. Currently there are approximately 2,500 empty dwellings in the borough at any one time, of which more than 600 are empty for more than two years.

The plans follow a move by Hyndburn Council to bring in a landlord licensing scheme.

Coun Pritchard said: “It is a real problem which has seen some areas hugely affected.

“The temptation is for some owners to landbank their property, which sees the neighbour-hood suffer. These plans will be widely consulted on, and we hope to see it make a real change across the borough and end the problem.”

The exemptions which currently apply to uninhabitable homes and empty properties would instead see a discount applied.

The rules would also apply to homes repossessed by a mortgage lender, so financial institutions would have to pay council tax on repossessed homes. Currently second home owners, and owners of empty properties, pay no council tax.

Consultation on the plans will be be implemented from next month.

Comments (9)

5:10pm Fri 26 Oct 12

midas says...

A blow for whom? Absentee Landlords who have boarded up the properties! Boo-Hoo.
A blow for whom? Absentee Landlords who have boarded up the properties! Boo-Hoo. midas

5:58pm Fri 26 Oct 12

DEO VOLENTE says...

Great idea.
Make them pay! Why should someone who "owns" a property in a borough be exempt from paying council tax? Tax the rich every time! If they dont pay take the house, sell it and use the money raisede to improve the borough's,.simple
really.
Deus Vobiscum
Great idea. Make them pay! Why should someone who "owns" a property in a borough be exempt from paying council tax? Tax the rich every time! If they dont pay take the house, sell it and use the money raisede to improve the borough's,.simple really. Deus Vobiscum DEO VOLENTE

6:06pm Fri 26 Oct 12

kenbro says...

Even though a house is empty, there is still a need for services such as Fire Brigade, Police, etc, for it. Why should the rest of the community pick up the tab for that ?
Even though a house is empty, there is still a need for services such as Fire Brigade, Police, etc, for it. Why should the rest of the community pick up the tab for that ? kenbro

6:17pm Fri 26 Oct 12

Christine Melsom says...

I understand councils do have the power to take these houses over after a certain length of time. Some councils are refurbishing empty homes and taking the cost from any rent collected. Any remaining rent will be returned to the owner. The lengths of leases do vary, but are certainly long enough to recoup any money spent.
I understand councils do have the power to take these houses over after a certain length of time. Some councils are refurbishing empty homes and taking the cost from any rent collected. Any remaining rent will be returned to the owner. The lengths of leases do vary, but are certainly long enough to recoup any money spent. Christine Melsom

9:40pm Fri 26 Oct 12

trevhd says...

I have had my house empty for over a year trying to sell it I have been paying % % 50 council tax luckily I have sold it after a £60k price drop
I have had my house empty for over a year trying to sell it I have been paying % % 50 council tax luckily I have sold it after a £60k price drop trevhd

3:31pm Sat 27 Oct 12

hotcrossbun99 says...

Are they going to apply these rules to Hyndburn Homes? Two out of six bungalows in my street have been empty for over 2 years.
Are they going to apply these rules to Hyndburn Homes? Two out of six bungalows in my street have been empty for over 2 years. hotcrossbun99

3:54pm Sat 27 Oct 12

useyourhead says...

hotcrossbun99 wrote:
Are they going to apply these rules to Hyndburn Homes? Two out of six bungalows in my street have been empty for over 2 years.
my mother passed away in may and they made it clear rent was still due while her things were in it, so we hastily moved everything, thinking another disabled person would be able to move in, it is still empty and looks an overgrown unloved mess, i thought there was a shortage of social housing?
-
back on point though, i don't see why hyndburn homes should be exempt if these rules are brought in.
[quote][p][bold]hotcrossbun99[/bold] wrote: Are they going to apply these rules to Hyndburn Homes? Two out of six bungalows in my street have been empty for over 2 years.[/p][/quote]my mother passed away in may and they made it clear rent was still due while her things were in it, so we hastily moved everything, thinking another disabled person would be able to move in, it is still empty and looks an overgrown unloved mess, i thought there was a shortage of social housing? - back on point though, i don't see why hyndburn homes should be exempt if these rules are brought in. useyourhead

7:57pm Sat 27 Oct 12

2 for 5p says...

trevhd wrote:
I have had my house empty for over a year trying to sell it I have been paying % % 50 council tax luckily I have sold it after a £60k price drop
You should of been charged full
[quote][p][bold]trevhd[/bold] wrote: I have had my house empty for over a year trying to sell it I have been paying % % 50 council tax luckily I have sold it after a £60k price drop[/p][/quote]You should of been charged full 2 for 5p

5:56am Sun 28 Oct 12

2 for 5p says...

2 for 5p wrote:
trevhd wrote: I have had my house empty for over a year trying to sell it I have been paying % % 50 council tax luckily I have sold it after a £60k price drop
You should of been charged full
I hope you wern't after sympathy For your £60k loss , cos you come to the wrong place.
You buy the house you take the risk some you win some you lose. In your case you lost. ;) :-) :-o
[quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]trevhd[/bold] wrote: I have had my house empty for over a year trying to sell it I have been paying % % 50 council tax luckily I have sold it after a £60k price drop[/p][/quote]You should of been charged full[/p][/quote]I hope you wern't after sympathy For your £60k loss , cos you come to the wrong place. You buy the house you take the risk some you win some you lose. In your case you lost. ;) :-) :-o 2 for 5p

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