Council Tax charges on second homes and empty properties
Council Tax charges on second homes in Arun are to be doubled, along with Council Tax due on properties that have been empty for at least a year.
This follows a change in the law as part of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023, which means councils can now charge a council tax premium on properties that are not someone's main residence but are substantially furnished.
The change, which was approved by Arun District Council’s Policy and Finance Committee on 7 March 2024 and Full Council on 13 March 2024, must be agreed a year before the first charges are made. Therefore, we will charge the new rate on second homes from 1 April 2025.
The act also allows councils to add a supplementary charge to the amount of Council Tax due on properties which have been left ‘unoccupied or substantially unfurnished’ for at least a year (previously two years). This change came into effect on 1 April this year.
There are some exemptions, such as if a resident has recently died, if a home is being actively marketed for sale or rent or if major repairs are underway.
Councillor Martin Lury, Leader of the Council, Arun District Council, said:
“It doesn’t seem right that homes in Arun are sitting empty when rents are rising, housing waiting lists are growing and getting on the property ladder is out of reach for so many people.
“We hope that increasing these charges will lead to a number of properties being sold or let, which in turn will have a positive impact on housing supply across the district. We will be writing to those affected very soon”