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Second homes council tax rise
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HOUSES in Chesterfield that are left empty for more than six months and second homes, will see a reduction in their Council Tax discounts from April 1.
Councillor Jim McManus, Executive Member for Housing at Chesterfield Borough Council said: “The last review of our discount levels was back in 2003 when the housing market was a lot different to what it is today. We now have much greater demand for properties at an affordable price so the reduction in Council Tax discounts is aimed to encourage property owners to bring properties back into use, making more available for local people.
“Bringing properties back into use also helps to reduce nuisance problems that are often associated with empty properties. And, as our last review was in 2003, the new discount rates will bring Chesterfield into line with those of many other local councils.”
Long term empty properties will have a 0% discount on Council Tax (previously 50%) and second homes will have a 10% discount (previously 50%).
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Comments
There are 3 comments to this article
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ChesterfieldChris
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 05:57 PMIn fact, as you get a 25% discount for single occupancy, and only now a maximum 10% discount for secondempty homes - it will actually raise less council tax having one person occupying a house and using council services than it will having the property empty and using no services. The mind boggles at how the beancounters at the council actually come up with these ideas.
ChesterfieldChris
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 08:43 PMYes, but IF they were lived in, the people would be using the council services. An empty house does not use refuse collection, libraries, roads, country parks, pest control, public toilets or countless other items paid for by council tax. So why should they be charged 100 or 90% council tax. Which incedentally hits those with more expensive and less "affordable" housing harder. Would it be fair to ask a cyclist to pay toward fuel duty in their income tax even though they dont use a car, or any of the services that fuel duty should be used for? No. So why is it fair to charge an empty property for services it doesn't use? As for being "in line" with other councils - I see a distinct lack of examples in this article... And guess why. Because many other local councils have the 50% rate. Bolsover, Mansfield, Derbyshire Dales to name just a few. The only one this will be "in line" with is NEDDC.
Christine Melsom
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 01:02 PMWhy give any discount on second homes? If these properties were lived in by local people they would be paying one hundred per cent of the tax to their council.
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