Owners of second homes and empty homes in Tendring will face a 100 per cent premium on their council tax from next April.
The measure, agreed by Tendring District Council (TDC), is designed to encourage affected owners to release the properties and reduce housing shortages in the district.
After councillors agree the scheme at their last full council meeting, TDC leader Mark Stephenson said :”The premium on second homes – and those on empty homes – will encourage property owners to make their homes available for use as the main home for households and families, helping to tackle the shortfall of housing in the area.”
He added: “This is not intended to increase the amount of income the council gets, but rather in the long-term see more homes occupied.”
Councillors also agreed to maintain support at current levels for residents on low incomes and on pension credit next year. Around a sixth of the households in the district benefit from the Local Council Tax Support Scheme and the Exceptional Hardship Fund upport with council tax bills for those on low incomes in Tendring.
