Few days left to tell us what you think about tax for long-term empty homes and second homes in Ceredigion

Ceredigion County Council wants to know what the county’s residents think about charging a premium tax on long-term empty and second homes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

​The Council has the ability to charge a premium of up to 100% on top of the existing council tax payments for second and long-term empty homes from the 2017-18 financial year, as a result of changes to the Housing (Wales) Act 2014. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Dafydd Edwards, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Financial Services explains: “There are in Ceredigion currently 869 empty homes that have been empty for six months or more, and 2018 second homes. The Council doesn’t offer a discount to second home owners at present. The consultation exercise is to gain the feeling of residents on an increase to the rates on these properties.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council would welcome your views on what, if any, premium should be charged on long-term empty and second homes in the county. Information on Council Tax premiums and how they might be charged is provided on the consultation page on the website: www.ceredigion.gov.uk/consultations ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The closing date for responses is Wednesday, 2 March 2016. The consultation responses and the decision on whether to charge a premium will be considered at full Council on 24 March 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​