Barnsley landlords with unoccupied properties could face council tax hike of 200 per cent

At present, homes left unoccupied for more than two years are charged a 100 per cent premium on the bill, doubling the cost.

From April, Barnsley Council is to increase the charge to a 200 per cent premium - effectively trebling the cost - for homes which have been out of use for five years.

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That is likely to increase again from 2021, but full details of those proposals will go to the council’s ruling cabinet at some point in the future.

If adopted, they could see properties empty for a decade or more being charged at four times the normal council tax bill.

The increased charges have been made possible by recent announcements by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

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They dovetail with Barnsley Council’s own policy of getting unoccupied homes back into use, a move which helps to meet housing needs in the area and can also reduce anti social behaviour problems which can exist around vacant properties.On current figures, 288 properties would be affected by the change next year, with 125 falling into the category of being empty for more than five years.

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