Empty homes blow on tax

Councils across the West Midlands are scrapping council tax exemptions on empty homes to encourage landlords to use them.

New powers have been given to councils by central government to avoid landlords hanging on to homes in the current property slump. However, owners who cannot shift empty homes in a struggling property market say new rules are hitting them in the pocket instead.

Tipton engineer John Hale put his mother's Walsall home on the market in January last year after she died and has paid half the normal council tax.

However, as of April 1 he has to pay the full amount

Councillor Al Griffiths, Walsall Council cabinet member for finance, said they were acting in line with Government guidelines

In Sandwell owners get a short term stay of execution but then face full bills.

Empty, unfurnished properties get a six month exemption before full tax must be paid. If an empty property needs repairs there is a delay for a year.

Furnished properties, including rental homes will still get a 50 per cent exemption. Cannock Chase Council said if a property was empty and had to be substantially unfurnished it was exempt from council tax for six months. After that a 50 per cent charge was payable. Stafford Borough Council head of policy and improvement, Norman Jones, said there were no plans to scrap tax rebates on empty properties.