Wokingham council tax to double after one year for empty homes

Wokingham Borough Council has agreed to charge double rates

A council has agreed to charge double the rate of council tax for homes left empty for one year.

Wokingham council's Liberal Democrat leaders said they wanted to "tackle a shortage of affordable housing by bringing empty homes back into use".

Currently homes are charged double if they are left empty for two years.

Conservative councillor Laura Blumenthal said it was "a broad brush stroke to try to get as much tax as possible".

The new rule will come into force from 1 April this year.

Wokingham Borough Council also agreed to a 100% council tax premium on homes "occupied periodically", which refers to second homes, from 1 April 2025.

Government figures show there are 478 long-term empty homes and 341 second homes in Wokingham borough.

Liberal Democrat councillor Imogen Shepherd-DuBey said council leaders "want to encourage property owners to bring empty homes back into use".

She added: "A lot of particularly low-income people are struggling to find properties to rent. Anything we can do to help resolve that problem is, I think, a good thing."

However, Ms Blumenthal said she was worried that people who had taken charge of a dead relative's home, or who were being prevented from selling their homes by an abusive ex-partner, could be caught out.

"When it comes to empty properties, empty for a year, I'm concerned it's going to affect those who are grieving or suffering economic abuse," she said.

The authority said it could raise £619,000 from about 273 homes left empty for more than a year and less than two years.

It added £676,000 could be raised from 272 properties occupied periodically for the same length of time.

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