Council tax payers in East Sussex will be charged premiums for long-term empty homes and lose discounts on second homes, warns property consultancy Strutt & Parker.
Council tax payers in East Sussex will be charged premiums for long-term empty homes and lose discounts on second homes, warns property consultancy Strutt & Parker.
Residents should be aware of changes to council tax discounts and exemptions which will come into play from April 1, 2013, following central government changes that have given new powers to local councils.
Wealden District Council is among the local authorities to make substantial changes to council tax and has written to those affected to notify them of the changes, undertaken in line with new powers given to councils under the Local Government Finance Act 2012.
Charlotte Kershaw, partner in Strutt & Parker's Lewes office, said: "There are a number of important changes of which residents need to be aware or they are in for a nasty shock come April 1. Many of our clients will be affected by these changes. This is not unique to Wealden District Council; many local authorities throughout England are implementing stiff changes to council tax and property owners should plan accordingly. At a time when everyone is feeling the pinch, these changes are not good news for anyone."
Discounts on furnished second homes, currently set at 10%, will be removed after April 1 and full council tax will be payable.
Owners of empty unfurnished properties, who currently have a six-month exemption, will now have a 100% discount for a month, after which they will have to pay full council tax. Properties currently subject to a six-month exemption will be liable to full council tax beyond April 1 - the exemption period having been for longer than a month already.
An empty home premium will also be charged on those properties which are unoccupied for more than two years. Owners will have to pay 150% council tax unless the property is occupied by a member of the armed forces or it is an annexe being treated by the owner as part of the main home.
Exemptions for properties in disrepair will be cut to a 50% discount for a maximum period of 12 months, after which the owner is liable for full council tax.