Empty properties face 300% council tax premium

Owners who leave properties unfurnished and empty in Lewes will be facing higher council tax bills

The owners of properties left empty in an East Sussex town could see their council tax bills as much as treble.

Lewes District Council's cabinet agreed on Thursday to impose the extra costs from April 2024.

Second home owners could also eventually face bigger bills.

The measures will come into force if approved by the full council of the authority, which is run as a coalition by the Green and Labour parties.

Under the proposals homes left unfurnished and empty for between a year and five years would attract a 100% council tax premium.

That would rise to 200% for those left empty for between five and 10 years, becoming 300% for properties empty longer than a decade.

Currently all empty homes are subject to a 50% premium.

The council also plans to make use of new laws allowing it to charge second home owners more, with furnished properties not being used as a main residence being charged a 100% council tax premium from April 2025.

The owners of second homes in Lewes are also facing higher council tax bills

Christine Robinson, deputy leader and cabinet member for community wellbeing, said: “It is verging on scandalous that at a time when we have an acute shortage of homes for local people in Lewes district, so many properties are standing long-term empty or being used as a second home.

“I am very pleased we are able to increase these levies and that as a result, more properties may come back on to the market from owners of second and empty homes who are discouraged by the extra fees.

"If they retain the properties, they will be making much greater contributions to local services which are currently under great pressure.”

The measures will go before the next full council meeting on 19 February.