Horsham: Consultation on increasing tax on second and empty homes ends

Horsham District Council wants to double council tax for the owners of empty and second homes in the town

A consultation into increasing the council tax paid on empty homes in Horsham, West Sussex, ends on Friday.

Horsham District Council has been asking residents their views on two options.

One is to reduce the time a property can be unoccupied and unfurnished before being charged an added 100% council tax from two years to one.

The second is to increase council tax on a furnished second home by 100%, when no-one is resident.

Both would come into effect from 1 April.

The council is using powers it received in the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act of 2023.

Lewes District Council in East Sussex is planning a similar scheme, with some owners of empty buildings seeing their council tax bills triple, depending on how long they remain vacant.

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