Scots plan council tax levy on empty homes
Thursday, 20 October 2011 11:46 AM
Councils in Scotland are to get new powers to tax empty property that could raise millions of pounds to build new affordable homes.
Under the Council Tax on Empty Homes and Housing Support Grant Bill they will be allowed to charge up to an extra 100 per cent of the standard council tax charge on the estimated 25,000 homes empty for more than six months.
The Scottish government says that if all local authorities opted for the maximum charge they could raise up to £30 million for affordable housing.
However, it is also working with the homelessness charity Shelter through the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership to work with empty property owners to encourage them to bring the homes back into use.
Alex Neil, cabinet secretary for infrastructure and capital investment, said: "Although the public purse is under huge financial strain the Scottish government is doing all it can to increase the supply of affordable housing across the country.
"One way to do this is to tackle the problem of empty homes, which are a wasted resource and often also a blight on local communities as they attract vandalism."
Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, welcomed the proposals as "a step in the right direction".
The news follows widespread shock that a house in Brighton has been left unoccupied since 1979.
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