Owners of long-term empty properties and second homes in the Vale of Glamorgan will be made to pay twice as much in council tax. The Vale of Glamorgan Council yesterday voted to approve a 100% council tax premium for long-term empty properties to be levied in 2023/24.
This will increase to a 150% premium in 2024/25 and a 200% premium in 2025/26. Councillors also voted to approve a 100% council tax premium for second homes which will be levied in 2024/25. Vale of Glamorgan Council ward member for Sully, Councillor Kevin Mahoney, said that whilst he understood a need to crack down on empty properties that "blight streets", he felt there was a "degree of infringement of civil liberties" in relation to the proposal.
He added: "If I was in the economic position that I own two houses, which I stress yet again I am not, if I wish to live somewhere, six months here, six months there, who are the Vale of Glamorgan to be lecturing me?" Cllr Mahoney also pointed out that the majority of respondents to a consultation on the proposed council tax premiums were opposed to it.
