Skip to main content area
Working in partnership for the people of Herefordshire
Main Content Area
Second home owners will have an added incentive to sell or rent their properties following Herefordshire Council’s decision to reduce large council tax discounts for multiple property owners.
Until the recent change in Central Government law, Local Authorities were obliged to give Council Tax concession of 50% for second home owners and owners of properties which have been empty for over six months.
Cabinet agreed, at its meeting on Thursday (November 20), to lessen the discount to the minimum allowable of 10% for second home owners and to remove the discount entirely for empty properties, a move hoped to help stimulate the property market as well as raise additional annual revenue of around £300,000
Herefordshire has a severe shortage of affordable housing although there are around 1,000 second homes and 500 homes empty for six months or more.
Cllr Roger Phillips, Herefordshire Council Leader, said: “This is a sensible option and means a more equitable system of Council Tax charging.
“Multiple-property owners will now have an incentive to release much needed stock into the market which is good news for people looking to rent or buy a home in the County.
“Council Tax is a significant family bill that we all have and any way we can lessen that cost to the average householder is what we should be doing and this fairer system will go some way to achieving that aim.”
The changes will come into effect from April 1, 2004.
Council Tax on second homes and vacant properties
Second home owners will have an added incentive to sell or rent their properties following Herefordshire Council’s decision to reduce large council tax discounts for multiple property owners.
Until the recent change in Central Government law, Local Authorities were obliged to give Council Tax concession of 50% for second home owners and owners of properties which have been empty for over six months.
Cabinet agreed, at its meeting on Thursday (November 20), to lessen the discount to the minimum allowable of 10% for second home owners and to remove the discount entirely for empty properties, a move hoped to help stimulate the property market as well as raise additional annual revenue of around £300,000
Herefordshire has a severe shortage of affordable housing although there are around 1,000 second homes and 500 homes empty for six months or more.
Cllr Roger Phillips, Herefordshire Council Leader, said: “This is a sensible option and means a more equitable system of Council Tax charging.
“Multiple-property owners will now have an incentive to release much needed stock into the market which is good news for people looking to rent or buy a home in the County.
“Council Tax is a significant family bill that we all have and any way we can lessen that cost to the average householder is what we should be doing and this fairer system will go some way to achieving that aim.”
The changes will come into effect from April 1, 2004.