Owners of empty homes face 300% council tax hike

The review of empty housing is part of the council's efforts to boost the level of affordable homes available in the city

A review of empty homes will be carried out to tackle the shortage of affordable housing in a city in the north west of England.

Liverpool City Council said it would contact the owners of properties that had been unoccupied for some time.

These owners face penalties of paying anything from 100% extra council tax and up to 300% extra where their Liverpool homes have lain empty for more than a decade.

The council's lead on transformation, councillor Ruth Bennett, said: "We know there is a need for more affordable housing in the city to help alleviate homelessness."

'Blight on communities'

Ms Bennett, who is also deputy leader of the council, said homes that remain empty over a long-term period could "fall into disrepair and are a blight on communities".

She said they created "an impression of neglect and decline in our communities and neighbourhoods, which is unfair on residents".

“Reducing the numbers of empty properties will not only meet demand but will also enhance pride in an area, reduce crime and vandalism and mean more trade for local shops and businesses," Ms Bennett added.

She said further initiatives to tackle the housing crisis and increase affordable housing would be announced later this year.

The council said it was committed to maximising the use of all properties, reducing homelessness and the need for temporary accommodation.

In its latest budget, Liverpool City Council agreed to charge an additional 100% council tax for those properties that have been empty for more than 12 months.

Properties lying empty for more than five years face an extra 200% in council tax, while those unoccupied for a decade or more face paying a further 300%.

Homelessness charity Crisis said it believed up to 40,000 genuinely affordable homes could be provided across the country over the next four years if concerted action was taken to repurpose empty properties.