Plans to charge 200% council tax on empty Torbay properties

All properties in Torbay are set to be automatically charged 200% council tax by Torbay Council from April 1. 

The policy forms part of the council's work to reduce the number of empty home in the bay, and has been announced at the start of national Empty Homes Week. 

From 1 April 2024, owners of empty properties will receive their bills as part of the annual billing process with the charge already applied.

Before this measure, charges were already levied against empty homes, but council tax hikes were only incurred after the property was empty for over two years.

In Torbay, there are approximately 1,000 properties that are empty for at least six months. Nationally, that number stands at over 250,000 properties.

Tackling empty homes forms a cornerstone of the Council’s Housing Strategy and in a survey last year, 93% of residents who took part said they either agreed or strongly agreed that the Council should get involved in bringing empty homes back into use.

Surveys also found that 79% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that the Council should offer incentives for empty homes to be brought back into use and 81% agreed or strongly agreed that the Council should use enforcement to bring empty properties into use.

Cllr Dave Thomas, Leader of Torbay Council branded empty homes "wasted assets", and hoped that this financial penalty would "encourage more people to make sure they don’t leave properties empty for longer than necessary."

He said: "We are always working with our partners and property owners to do more to tackle the issue of long-term empty properties in Torbay and we welcome the new 200% Council Tax charge on houses that have been empty for more than a year. This financial penalty should encourage more people to make sure they don’t leave properties empty for longer than necessary.

“Empty homes are a wasted asset and we want to make the best of existing housing in the Bay to ensure that they can become homes to the families who need them.

“If you know of an empty property report it online and we will make enquiries with the owner and also ensure the appropriate Council Tax charges are in place. We prioritise work on long term empty properties due to the impact that they may also have on the local community.”