Newport: Empty homes could be hit with 300% council tax rise

Almost 1,000 homes could be returned to use under a new plan, according to council leader Jane Mudd

Empty homes could be hit with a 300% council tax premium in Newport as the city council becomes the latest to target empty properties.

Council leader Jane Mudd said the move would be an "incentive" to owners and could return almost 1,000 homes to use.

Demand for accommodation, according to a council report, has rocketed 114% since the Covid pandemic, with 9,000 people waiting for social housing.

The city has 2,565 empty homes with 830 classed as long-term empty.

That means they are unfurnished and have not been been lived in for a year or more.

Ms Mudd told a council meeting it was not right properties were vacant when there was demand for housing.

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City residents will be consulted about the plan to hike council tax bills for owners of long-term empty homes.

They are currently exempt from council tax for up to 12 months.

But under the authority's new plan owners could be charged four times the usual council tax after that period.

It would see empty homes in Newport hit with a 300% council tax premium

Ms Mudd and her cabinet said they expected the policy to be popular as it could address homelessness and make more housing available to families in need.

Housing member James Clarke and community member Debbie Harvey both backed the plan.

And social services member Jason Hughes said there was a lot to be gained from the proposal.

The council will vote on the policy in the new year.