Councillors at Babergh District Council have agreed higher tax premiums for owners of second homes and long-term empty properties, as part of a raft of measures to bring more homes back into use. 

There are almost 600 empty properties in Babergh, which councillors are keen to see used to meet growing housing need. 

The council already impose a council tax premium on the owners of properties that are empty and unfurnished for two years or longer, but under new legislation, the council would be able to target empty properties after just one year from April 2024 – and impose a levy on second home owners from April 2025.

At a full Babergh council meeting this week, its was agreed a new policy that will see the owners of properties left empty for a year or more paying double, with a premium of up to 100% from April 2024; properties empty for five years or more seeing their council tax bills treble with a premium of up to 200%; and owners of properties left empty for 10 years facing quadrupled bills, with a premium of up to 300%. 

Owners of 576 second homes in Babergh will see their council tax bill double from April 2025.

The definition of a second home for council tax purposes would be a property which there is 'no one resident' but that is 'substantially furnished'. There will be exceptions, in line with Government policy, expected to include properties being actively marketed for sale or rent for a limited period, houses going through probate, caravan pitches or houseboat moorings.

Cllr Jessie Carter (Picture: Babergh)

Cabinet member for housing at Babergh District Council, Cllr Jessie Carter said: "Each empty property is a potential home, and we must actively encourage landlords to bring them back into circulation to help relieve the pressure on existing housing stock. The policy also means that homeowners pay their fair share towards council services."

Initial high-level analysis suggests the proposals for empty homes premiums could generate an extra £300k in Babergh next year, while the premiums for second home owners in 2025 could net an additional £1.1m for Babergh.

 The district, however, would only keep a fraction of the council tax they collect (less than 10%), with the bulk going towards the cost of services provided by Suffolk County Council and the Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner.

The premiums are just one way that the councils are encouraging empty properties back into use. There is also information on the councils' websites about Houses 4 Homes – the councils' empty homes initiative and the range of help it can offer owners to bring properties back to use, including providing loans, landlord lettings and income assistance and construction support. Find out more about Houses 4 Homes here: Empty homes - Babergh District Council.

The councils also offer a free lettings service and guaranteed rent scheme to private sector landlords. Central Suffolk Lettings works with landlords to increase access to good quality homes in the private rented sector to eligible tenants. Find out more about Central Suffolk Lettings here: Central Suffolk Lettings: FREE Letting Services - Babergh District Council and Central Suffolk Lettings