Changes to council tax premiums approved

North Northamptonshire Council said the changes will allow it to address housing shortages in the area

Changes to the types of properties that are required to pay a council tax premium have been approved by a local authority.

North Northamptonshire Council said the move would help cut housing shortages in the area.

Currently, owners of homes that are empty and unfurnished for up to two years are required to pay council tax on the properties, but from April 2026, payment of the levy would be increased by 100% after the home was empty for one year - though some exceptions may apply.

The Reform UK-controlled council also agreed to start charging the premium on second homes, with that change to be implemented from April 2027 as it is required to provide 12 months' notice.

It said second homes were defined as a dwelling "which is not a person's sole or main residence and is substantially furnished".

The changes were approved at the authority's executive meeting on Tuesday.

North Northamptonshire has 3,138 properties that have been determined as empty, with 453 of those vacant for two years based on the current council criteria.

It said 2,685 properties have been empty for up to two years.

Martin Griffiths, the council's leader, said: "This is an important step in meeting one of our commitments of the corporate plan which is to improve the standard of new and existing homes and ensuring housing supply meets demand.

"Like elsewhere we have a shortage of housing available to our residents, so anything we can do to increase supply is absolutely the right thing to be doing."