COUNCILLORS in Conwy will be asked to decide on the level of council tax premium on long-term empty and second homes in the county for 2024-25 at meetings in the next few weeks.

Members and council officers have been carefully considering the implications, risks and consequences associated with various options for council tax premiums that might be applied.

The public was also asked for opinions in a consultation which took place between June 5 and July 14, when 373 responses were received.

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Now, councillors will be asked to decide whether to accept the recommendations from the Affordable Housing (Council Tax Premium) Working Group which met earlier this year:

  • To charge a 100 per cent council tax premium for both second and long-term empty homes from April 2024.
  • To recommend an indicative level of premium of 200 per cent on both categories from April 1, 2025, with the introduction of an increased premium of 300 per cent for long-term empty properties which have been empty for five years or more, subject to review during 2024-25.

The reports going before the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, cabinet, and then full council, set out the deliberations of the working group when considering the impact of premiums.

The premiums are a tool for local authorities designed to encourage owners to bring empty properties into use, to support the increase of affordable housing for purchase or to let and to enhance the sustainability of communities.

Cllr Nigel Smith, cabinet member for sustainable economy, which includes the Revenue and Benefits Service, said: “We have to consider this difficult subject in the context of the impact various options will have.

“Ultimately, it’s about increasing the supply of affordable housing, helping meet local housing need and enhancing the sustainability of local communities.

“It’s important to remember that any additional revenue generated from the premiums continues to be used to support the council’s housing budget, which faces significant, increasing pressures.”

There are a range of measures available to help support anyone with an empty home to bring it back into use.

The report about premiums will be discussed by the council’s Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee on October 2.

It will then go to cabinet on October 10, before a final decision is made by the council on October 19.