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A new move by Colchester Borough Council will see all long term empty and unfurnished properties charged the full rate of Council Tax.
Until now there has been a full exemption in Council Tax for unoccupied properties in the first six months followed by a 50% discount at the end of that free period. Now the Council has agreed to abolish this discount.
The aim is to prevent empty properties staying unoccupied for long periods of time. Notifications will be sent out to the 600 Council Taxpayers currently affected before the changes come into effect on 1 April.
Councillor Nick Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Resources, said: "The Council will not make any gain from the additional income, as the grant received from the government will be adjusted accordingly each year.
"However, we want to encourage people to make use of their properties by either letting them or selling them so we don't have perfectly good empty homes left unoccupied."
For more information about these changes call the Customer Service Centre on 01206 282300.
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Press release issued: February 14 2006
