Ceredigion County Council wants to know what the county’s residents think about charging a premium tax on long-term empty and second homes.
The Council has the ability to charge a premium of up to 100% on top of the existing council tax payments for second and long-term empty homes from the 2017-18 financial year, as a result of changes to the Housing (Wales) Act 2014.
Councillor Dafydd Edwards, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Financial Services explains: “There are in Ceredigion currently 869 empty homes that have been empty for six months or more, and 2018 second homes. The Council doesn’t offer a discount to second home owners at present. The consultation exercise is to gain the feeling of residents on an increase to the rates on these properties.”
The Council would welcome your views on what, if any, premium should be charged on long-term empty and second homes in the county. Information on Council Tax premiums and how they might be charged is provided on the consultation page on the website: www.ceredigion.gov.uk/consultations
The closing date for responses is Wednesday, 2 March 2016. The consultation responses and the decision on whether to charge a premium will be considered at full Council on 24 March 2016.
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