Homeowners facing extra council tax ‘need help’

Legislation allowing local authorities to double council tax on empty homes should be accompanied by advice and help for owners, MSPs have been told.

The Scottish Government proposes giving councils the power to increase the amount paid by owners of properties that have been vacant for a year or more.

The measures, contained in the Local Government Finance (Unoccupied Properties etc) (Scotland) Bill, are aimed at encouraging owners to bring their property back into use.

More than 23,000 houses in the private sector lie empty, the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership estimates.

Giving evidence on the proposed new laws at Holyrood’s local government committee, Jim Hayton, policy officer at the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers, said: “In broad terms, I believe that the government has got the balance broadly right.

“If we and our partners can make sure that people have got the information and a bit of help to get unstuck, then that further helps to demonstrate to the public that it is a balance and it is not just an attempt to raise further revenue for local government.”

Kristen Hubert, co-ordinator of the Empty Homes Network at Shelter Scotland, told the committee the additional tax would help to counter the hidden costs of empty homes to the community, such as fly-tipping and unkempt gardens.

She said: “If you are charging this levy, you are first of all giving the owner every chance to bring the property back into use. It is not going to be charged until the home has been empty for a year at the minimum as it stands in the proposal.

“You’ve got that year to provide advice and information and to work through any problems.”