Consultation about Empty Properties and Council Tax

Overview

***Consulation Extended until 27th October 2023***

The Government is bringing in new rules to allow Councils to make changes to Council Tax.

The new rules will affect properties that have:

• been left empty for a long time. (Known as long term empty properties).
• properties that are only lived in sometimes. (Known as second homes or holiday homes).

The changes for properties that have been left empty long term will happen from 1^st April 2024.

The changes for properties that are only lived in sometimes will happen from 1^st April 2025.

The new rules are:

• Councils can charge double Council Tax on properties that have been left empty for 1 year. (This is called a premium charge of an extra 100% on top of the normal charge).
• Councils can charge double Council Tax for properties that are only lived in sometimes. (This is called a premium charge of an extra 100% on top or the normal charge.

Sefton Council is thinking about making changes to Council Tax for properties:

• that no one has lived in for a long time.
• properties that are only lived in sometimes.

The Council would like you to tell us what you think about the changes that the Council could make.

Please note that at the end of this survey, before submitting your results, you will be asked if you want to provide an email address so that you can receive a PDF copy of your response.  This is completely optional.  The email address is only used to send the email to you via the online consultation system provided by Delib as the data processor.  The email address will not be stored with the responses and Sefton Council will not have access to it.  

What happens next

The results of this consultation will be reported to the Council Members at a Cabinet meeting in January 2024 and will help to inform the Council’s approach to Council Tax long term empty homes from 1^st April 2024 and changes to Council Tax for properties that are only lived in sometimes from 01^st April 2025.

The Cabinet recommendation will be considered by full Council at a meeting in January 2024.