Owners of residential properties in Bath & North East Somerset that have been empty for more than six months are being alerted during National Empty Homes Week, to a change in Council Tax charges.

Following a change in legislation and a decision by Bath & North East Somerset Council, the length of time a property can be empty before the owners are charged a council tax premium of 100% will be reduced from two years to one from 1 April.

The change encourages owners of long-term empty properties to return them to occupation, so increasing the number of homes available in B&NES.

Since the start of the financial year 2023/24, 98 empty properties have been bought back into use under the council's Empty Residential Property Policy that offers advice and financial support to owners of homes that have been empty for six months or more, through loans, grants and VAT reduction.

In addition, the Empty Property team has helped to bring several properties back into use to house Ukrainian refugee and homeless families.

Councillor Matt McCabe, cabinet member for Built Environment and sustainable Development, said: "We have growing need for additional housing in Bath & North East Somerset and unoccupied houses are a valuable resource that are going to waste and often have a negative impact on local communities.

" We hope that by increasing the Council Tax premium we will encourage owners to bring their empty properties back into use as homes for other residents.

"The council's Empty Property Service offers a range of financial assistance and advice to owners of empty properties and National Empty Homes Week is a good opportunity to raise awareness of how we can help."

From April 2024, 200% Council Tax will be charged on properties that have been empty for between one and five years (previously between two and five years), 300% Council Tax on properties that have been empty for between five and ten years and 400% on properties that have been empty for ten years or more.

If you own an empty property, Council Tax is normally payable, although in some situations you may be eligible for an exemption. You can find more information on Council Tax and unoccupied properties on the council website.

For more information about the council's Empty Property Service or to report an empty property that's negatively impacting the community, please visit   the council website or contact the Empty Property Officer on 01225 396 411 or [email protected]

The decision to increase the Council Tax premium was made by Council on 30 November 2023.