Hastings Borough Council: Tax on empty properties could double

More owners of second homes and empty properties in Hastings could find their council tax doubling

More owners of empty properties in Hastings, East Sussex, could find themselves paying double council tax.

The Borough Council wants to surcharge properties that have been empty for a year, rather than the current two years.

The proposal was approved by the cabinet on 12 February and will now go to the full council on 21 February.

Hastings Borough Council said it hoped to bring more properties back into use as main homes.

Councillors are also considering a 100% council tax premium on second homes in the district, which would come into effect from April 2025.

Brighton, Lewes, Rother, Horsham and Adur and Worthing councils have recently voted to take similar action.

It follows councils being given new powers in 2023.

• Council leader asks residents to offer spare rooms

• Hastings council bankruptcy fears amid housing crisis

• Rising tide of homelessness could bankrupt seaside town

In July 2023, council officers warned Hastings could be forced into effective bankruptcy because of an increase in people needing temporary accommodation.

In November 2023, the authority proposed increasing charges for its services by 10% as it tried to make £4m in savings in the financial year 2024/25.

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