Long term empty properties can be a blight on the local environment and neighbouring properties in addition to not supporting local housing need. New build developments alone will not sufficiently meet the level of housing demand and the Council needs to bring existing housing stock across Rhondda Cynon Taf back into use. The Council’s Empty Homes Strategy provides clear structure and guidance to facilitate this work. The Strategy can be accessed by clicking
here.
Since the introduction of the first Empty Homes Strategy in 2017 the number of empty homes in Rhondda Cynon Taf has reduced by almost 1,000, which is encouraging, but there remains approximately 1,500 long term empty properties across the County Borough, over 450 of which have been empty for 5 years or more. The Council is committed to bringing these back into use so that they provide much needed housing accommodation across our communities.
One of the objectives of the Empty Homes Strategy is to use a range of interventions to ensure all types of empty homes are targeted and enable them to be brought back into use. The Council provides owners with a number of support packages to enable them to do so including the provision of housing grants and loans. Further information on available housing grants and loans can be obtained by clicking here. A further such intervention includes the use of a Council Tax Premium for long term empty properties.
The Council has discretionary powers to charge higher amounts of Council Tax (a premium) on certain properties as provided for by the Housing (Wales) Act 2014.
The discretion given to Councils to charge a premium is intended to be used as part of a wider strategy to help Councils to:
a) Bring long-term empty homes back into use to provide safe, secure and affordable homes; and
b) Support Councils in increasing the supply of affordable housing and enhancing the sustainability of local communities.
Following a period of public consultation in late 2022, the Council introduced a Council Tax Premium Policy and since 1st April 2023, the Council has been charging a higher amount (a ‘premium’) of 50% on top of the standard rate of council tax for properties that have been empty for between 1 and 2 years and a 100% premium where a property has been empty for more than 2 years.
The Council is now consulting on a proposal to increase the Council Tax Premium on long-term empty properties. The proposal is to apply a 100% premium for properties which have been empty for between 1 and 3 years, rising to 200% for properties which have been empty for more than three years. It is proposed that the premium is introduced from 1st April 2025.
The table below sets out how the premium would be applied on all long-term empty properties in the County Borough:
| Length of Time Property has been Empty | Current Council Tax Liability | Proposed Council Tax Liability |
|---|
| 0-6 Months |
0% |
0% |
| 7-12 Months |
100% |
100% |
| 1-2 Years |
150% |
200% |
| 2-3 Years |
200% |
200% |
| 3-5 Years |
200% |
300% |
| 5 Years + |
200% |
300% |
Please note that there are certain exceptions to the payment of Council Tax Premiums that may apply in specific circumstances. A premium cannot be charged on a dwelling that falls within one of the seven Classes of Dwellings listed below:
| Class | Definition | Application |
|---|
|
Class1
|
Dwellings being marketed for sale – time limited for one year.
|
Second Homes and Long-Term Empty Properties
|
|
Class 2
|
Dwellings being marketed for let – time limited for one year
|
|
Class 3
|
Annexes forming part of, or being treated as part of, the main dwelling
|
|
Class 4
|
Dwellings which would be someone’s sole or main residence if they were not residing in armed forces accommodation
|
|
Class 5
|
Occupied caravan pitches and boat moorings
|
Second Homes
|
|
Class 6
|
Seasonal homes where year-round occupation is prohibited
|
|
Class 7
|
Job-related dwellings
|
The Council is also consulting on proposals which would introduce arrangements to use a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) as a further intervention, and in specific circumstances, such as where there are no realistic prospects of owners taking action to enable the reuse of the property.
Further information on the proposal can be found in the report which was considered by the Council’s Cabinet on the 17th July 2024 – the full report can be accessed by clicking here (and referring to Agenda Item 6).
We would like your views on this proposal and a link to a survey for submitting responses can be found below.
The Consultation closed on the 8th September 2024.