Bolsover District Council to Implement Higher Tax for Vacant Properties

A local authority is poised to introduce an elevated tax rate for residential properties that have remained unoccupied for over a year. Bolsover District Council announced that these new charges, which are scheduled to become effective in April 2026, are designed to encourage owners to return the buildings to active use. Currently, vacant homes in Bolsover are subject to the full council tax rate for their respective band; however, they will now incur charges ranging from two to four times that amount, depending on the duration the property has been empty. Councillor Clive Moesby stated: “Long term empty properties are a wasted resource and bringing them back into use has long been a priority for us.” Government data analyzed by Action on Empty Homes indicates that the Bolsover district had 716 long-term vacant properties in 2023. The decision to implement this premium was made during a council meeting held last week. For homes that have been empty for a period of one to five years, owners will be required to pay double the standard level of council tax. Properties unoccupied for between five and 10 years will face a charge equivalent to three times the standard rate. Furthermore, homes that have been vacant for at least 10 years will incur a bill four times the standard rate. The council clarified that this will apply to the property itself rather than the circumstances of the council taxpayer, ensuring that a change of ownership will not impact the charge. Nevertheless, some properties will be exempt, such as those owned by members of the armed forces who have had to relocate for their employment. Mr. Moesby, the cabinet member for resources, expressed his belief that the new charges, officially named the “long term empty property premium,” will contribute to improving neighborhood environments and reducing anti-social behavior. He remarked: “We know there is a national housing shortage, so I am delighted that this new premium was agreed as this will hopefully be the push that some landlords and owners need to get their property back into use.” Adam Cliff, representing the Empty Homes Network, reported that just under one million homes in England were vacant, describing this as a “massive waste” given that the country was “crying out for houses.” He noted that other councils across the country had implemented similar premiums over the past decade. Mr. Cliff affirmed his support for the measure, but “with a caveat that councils should be supporting owners, encouraging them, handholding them when necessary to bring properties back into use, not just applying the premium.” The council additionally stated that its housing department, planners, and environmental health teams are collaborating to assist owners of empty homes throughout this process. For further updates, follow BBC Derby on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Story submissions can be sent to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210. This content is copyrighted by BBC, 2024. All rights are reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for material on external websites. Information regarding its policy on external linking is available.