Councillors are set to make a final decision on whether to charge more council tax for long term empty properties and second homes in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Plans to charge a 100% council tax premium on properties empty for more than two years and for second homes and a 50% premium on properties empty for between one and two years are due to go before full council on Wednesday, January 18, for a final decision.
In December, cabinet gave its backing to the proposals and has recommended them to full council for approval having considered the feedback from the consultation on the plans. The recommendation is that the premium for long term empty properties comes into force from April 1, 2023, while the premium for second homes is introduced from April 1, 2024.
The report said that the charging of a premium on long-term empty properties would raise additional revenue through council tax which is estimated at £1.5m a year but will be subject to review and confirmation once the exceptions are found and applied. The charging of a premium on second homes would raise an estimated extra £400,000 in council tax a year and the extra revenue raised would support the continuation of the council’s Empty Homes Strategy.
