Consultation on raising council tax premium for long-term empty homes and second homes

Why are we doing this?

We are proposing increases to the domestic council tax premium for long-term empty and second homes in Denbighshire.

A detailed document outlining our proposals can be downloaded from here:

Consultation document: proposals to increase council tax for long-term empty homes and second homes in Denbighshire (PDF)

Summary of proposals:

This proposal follows the introduction of new powers granted by Welsh Government, allowing local authorities in Wales to charge up to 300% over the standard charge.

The current charge for long-term empty homes and second homes in Denbighshire is 50% over the standard charge. We are proposing to increase this to:

1. From 1st April 2024: all long-term empty homes and second homes in Denbighshire will be charged 100% over the standard charge
2. From 1st April 2025: all long-term empty homes and second homes in Denbighshire will be charged 150% over the standard charge
3. From 1st April 2024: all long-term empty homes which have been empty for a continuous period of 5 years or longer will be charged an additional 50% over the proposed increases. This means the charge for these properties will be 150% over the standard charge from 1st April 2024, and 200% over the standard charge from 1st April 2025.

To find the current council tax charges for your area, please visit our website:

Council tax charges | Denbighshire County Council (link opens in a new window)

By increasing the council tax charges on long-term empty homes and second homes, we hope that homeowners will be encouraged not to leave their properties empty.

We would like to encourage homeowners to bring long term empty and second homes back into use for the benefit of the local community and economy.  

Definitions

• Council tax is an annual fee charged by the Council to all properties within the county boundary. 
  Council tax makes up approximately 17% of the Council's total income and helps the Council to finance provision of important services such as Social Services, Education/Schools, Waste & Recycling, and much more.
   

• A long-term empty home is a dwelling (a domestic property desgined to be lived in) that remains unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for a continuous period of at least 1 year. 
  
  There are currently 637 long-term empty homes in Denbighshire.

• A second home is a dwelling (a domestic property designed to be lived in) which is a substantially furnished property and is not a person's sole or main place of residence. 
  
  There are currently 391 second homes in Denbighshire.

What do we want to know?

We would like to know what you think about our proposals.

We are interested in your views on:

1. Do you agree with our proposals to raise the premium on council tax for long-term empty and second homes in Denbighshire?
2. What impact you think any additional premium will have on the local housing market, both in terms of:
   1. Private Rental
   2. Open market (buying and selling of houses)
3. What impact you think any additional premium would have on the availability of affordable housing in Denbighshire
4. What impact you think any additional premium will have on the tourism industry in Denbighshire
5. What impact you think any additional premium will have on the status of the Welsh language and Welsh culture in Denbighshire

Tell us what you think

We would be grateful if you could complete our short consultation questionnaire to let us know what you think. An online version of the consultation questionnaire is available via the following link:

Consultation questionnaire (online version): proposals to increase council tax for long-term empty homes and second homes in Denbighshire 

You will need to provide your name and address in order to have your views considered for this consultation.

If you are unable to complete the online form, you can download and print a paper form, or pop into your local library to request one.

Consultation questionnaire (print version): proposals to increase council tax for long-term empty homes and second homes in Denbighshire (PDF)

Completed paper forms can be returned to:

• Your nearest Denbighshire County Council library during their usual opening hours
• By post to: Revenues Services,  Denbighshire County Council, Russell House, Churton Road, Rhyl, LL18 3DP

All responses must be received by Wednesday 21st June 2023

Location: Denbighshire County Council

• Start date 26 May 2023
• End date 21 June 2023
• Methods Feedback Forms, Consultation Document
• Supplier Denbighshire County Council

What we found out

Surveys

• Have your say: Consultation on raising Council Tax for long-term empty homes and second homes

Related documents

• Consultation questionnaire (print version): proposals to increase council tax for long-term empty homes and second homes in Denbighshire (181 KB)
• Dogfen ymgynghori: cynygion i godi treth y cyngor ar gyfer cartrefi wag dymorhir ac ail gartrefi yn Sir Ddinbych (180 KB)
• Holiadur ymgynghori (fersiwn argraffu): cynygion i codi treth y cyngor ar gyfer cartrefi wag dymorhir ac ail gartrefi yn Sir Ddinbych (238 KB)
• Consultation document: proposals to increase council tax for long-term empty homes and second homes in Denbighshire (174 KB)