As part of National Empty Homes Week Sefton Council is tackling the issue of Empty Homes in a number of different ways.
One of these, they have warned, is through Council Tax to encourage owners of empty properties to bring them back into use.
Owners of empty properties that are empty for over a year are charged an additional premium of 100% of the Council Tax charge. This means a total payable of 200% of the full Council Tax charge.
Properties which have been empty for five years are charged a 200% premium making a total payable of 300% of the full charge. Owners of properties that have been empty for more than 10 years are charged four times the normal Council Tax rate.
From 1st April 2025, the council will also charge a Council Tax premium on periodically occupied properties (second homes), or those substantially furnished for which there is no resident. These properties will be charged a 100% premium making a total payable of 200% of the full Council Tax charge.