Newport’s full council has backed a proposal to charge a council tax premium of 100 per cent on long-term empty properties and second homes.

Most local authorities in Wales have already introduced a council tax premium. Councils are allowed to charge up to 300 per cent.

A consultation on a proposed charge found that 76 per cent of 470 responses were in favour of the council doing more to tackle the problem of vacant homes.

More than half supported the introduction of a council tax premium with only around a third disagreeing. The most popular level of premium among those who responded was 100 per cent.

The consultation also asked for people’s views on properties that should be exempted from a premium.

Full council approved the cabinet’s recommendation to full council that a council tax premium of 100 per cent for long-term empty properties and second homes should be introduced from 1 April 2024.

There will be additional local exemptions to the statutory ones already in place as follows:

New owners of previously long-term empty properties would not have to pay a premium for three months or up to six months if major building work is being carried out.
No premium on properties that are attached to a business and have no separate entrance.

Owners and landlords can get support and advice from our dedicated empty homes team about turning their empty houses into homes.