Owners of empty and second homes in South West London face having their council tax doubled for the first time.
Richmond Council will charge additional 100 per cent premiums on long-term empty and second homes from April to make more properties available in the borough.
The council has launched a consultation to ask residents for any exceptions they would like to see to the additional long-term empty and second homes premiums, which will be introduced on April 1. It will consider this feedback before publishing the final policies.
An additional premium of 100 per cent on top of the normal rate of council tax will be charged on homes left empty and unfurnished for more than one year, rather than two years, under the changes. Properties that are considered second homes will also see their council tax doubled.
Properties in Richmond that have been unoccupied and unfurnished for more than five years already have to pay a 200 per cent premium on council tax, while those left in that state for more than 10 years must pay a premium of 300 per cent.
There are no existing premium charges on second homes in Richmond, which are defined as any furnished property that is not someone’s only or main residence.
The government gave councils discretionary powers to introduce further premiums on empty and second homes in 2023.
Consultation documents said: “The council recognises that empty homes and second homes can have an impact in some communities where a proportion of properties are not occupied all year round. Large numbers of empty homes can contribute to housing supply pressures, whilst also reducing the desirability of local areas.
“Second homes can provide flexibility to enable people to work in and contribute to the local community, whilst being able to return to a family home in another part of the country on a regular basis. However, second homes do reduce the availability of permanent housing in an area where housing supply is under considerable pressure. For these reasons, the council is looking for ways to bring empty and underused homes back into use.”
There were 3,735 people on the council’s housing waiting list as of August 31. The authority received 268 properties for allocation from partner housing associations between April 2023 and March 2024.
The consultation closes on December 18.
