East Lothian homeowners with vacant properties will soon pay double council tax after a year, aiming to tackle the housing crisis in the area.
East Lothian: So, here’s the scoop. If you own an empty house in East Lothian, you might want to pay attention. New rules are coming that could hit your wallet hard.
Starting April 1, if your property sits empty for over a year, you’ll pay double the council tax. That’s right, double! Previously, you had three years before facing this penalty.
Now, after just six months of vacancy, the discount drops from 50% to only 10%. Ouch! This change aims to get more homes back on the market.
Last week, there were 637 empty homes in East Lothian. The council hopes this move could bring in an extra £81,266 in tax revenue. That’s a nice chunk of change!
Interestingly, even council-owned empty homes will face the same charges as private owners. The goal is to encourage everyone to make their properties livable again.
Some exceptions exist, like if a homeowner passes away or moves into a care home. But overall, the council wants to maximize tax charges on empty properties.
They plan to use the extra income to build affordable housing and improve the local housing situation. It’s a win-win if it works out!
So, if you’ve got an empty house, it might be time to think about renting it out or selling. The clock is ticking!
