A FRESH attempt has been made by West Devon Borough Council to press unoccupied homes back into use with a significant hike on council tax on long-term empty properties.

The council’s hub committee voted last week (September 15) to hike up the council tax surcharge — known as a premium — from 50% to 100% on properties that have been empty for two years or more.

The council tax premium on properties empty for five years or more will increase to 200%, while those empty for ten years or more will increase to 500% of the normal council tax paid.

The increases will apply from next April if they are given the final nod at the council’s full meeting today (September 22).

If the change in policy leads to all the 47 properties in the borough which currently pay the 50% premium paying up, the council tax increase to West Devon Borough Council’s coffers will be £7,786 — with the majority passed onto other authorities.

However, the policy is less about about money and more about the need to make as good use of the homes available at a time when homes are in short supply.

The hope is that when faced with a far larger premium, home owners will either do up their houses or place them on the market.

Cllr Debo Sellis said: ‘The purpose of this increase in the premium is to encourage owners to bring the property into use and increase the availability of housing stock.’

Cllr Caroline Mott asked, though, if the premium would still apply to properties unfit for habitation.

‘I’m conscious we have properties in the borough on the verge of falling down and it seems that a lot of these properties are allowed to fall down with no responsibility placed on the owners to bring them back to use,’ she said. ‘There is no comeback.’

For property deemed uninhabitable, rather than just empty and unfurnished, the owners can claim a reduction of 50% on their council tax rather than have to pay a premium.

However, council revenues officer Steve Henstock said a house would literally have to be a ruin to qualify for this. Otherwise they would pay more council tax not less where the property had been unoccupied for more than two years.

‘It has to be a major structural issue to get the 50 per cent reduction,’ he said. ‘I think the valuation office would pretty much need the roof to have gone.’

Cllr Chris Edmonds said he was in favour of increasing the council tax premium on properties that had been empty for more than two years.

‘The financial aspect is secondary, it is the opportunity to persuade owners to bring these much-needed properties back into use that is important,’ he said.

Cllr Terry Pearce said: ‘I really welcome this recommendation and in my view it is long oeverue.

‘We have had so many properties in West Devon that have been empty for a long time and we need to be seen to be active in trying to bring them back into use.’