Council tax rates will double on second homes and empty properties in South Cambridgeshire from 2026, South Cambridgeshire District Council has announced.
The local authority estimates that there are around around 3,000 empty and second homes in the district. The aim is to reduce this number.
Cllr Natalie Warren-Green, lead cabinet member for environmental services at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Bringing empty homes back into use is more than just a housing solution – it’s a step toward stronger, more vibrant communities. Every property that is left empty is wasted potential, while every home we can bring back into use contributes to tackling housing shortages.
“By making the best use of what we already have, we reduce environmental impact, tackle the housing crisis, and create sustainable healthy homes and vibrant communities.”
South Cambridgeshire District Council is keen to highlight that the government offers a 5% VAT rate on renovations for properties that have been unoccupied for more than two years but were previously lived in; an incentive that it hopes will appeal to property owners and investors.
Whilst I agree that they should charge properties that are just sitting there, I don’t agree that houses that are sat on the market at either fair market value, or at a price to avoid negative equity should be charged extra, and I certainly don’t agree that the properties of the recently-deceased should have to pay.
Many people don’t have the money to pay full council tax, as well as funeral costs etc, whilst waiting for the estate to be sorted. There should be a grace period of AT LEAST one month of no council tax, and then up to 6 months at maximum 50% of the single-occupancy tax rate, which can be extended at the discretion of the Council in extenuating circumstances, such as a sale taking longer, or on-going work required to get it into a saleable condition etc.
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Houses are not left empty for no reason. We have millions of high earners in the UK who pay no council tax. The empty homes scheme allows local authorities to renovate these properties and rent them out. Few bother because of the high cost of bringing them up to an EPC of C. I totally disagree with double council tax for a property that costs local authorities nothing. Wales has just reduced their second home increase to 150% because they now have so many second homes being sold which has resulted in local shops and pubs closing down. Second homes were the life blood for so many villages. Young people do not leave their villages because they can’t afford to buy a home there. They leave to find work.
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When I sold a property in Cornwall it took nearly six months because the buyer could not prove they had a mortgage offer. I wanted the property re-advertised and the agent argued against it because “it could scare off your buyer”. I had to threaten the agent with losing my business before they remarketed resulting in an offer of an extra £5k if I could move quickly and did not sell to the flaky buyer. Six months at double coundcil tax would be crippling.
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