Owners of empty properties in Hastings, East Sussex, may soon face a doubling of council tax rates under a new proposal by the Borough Council.

Currently, properties empty for two years are subject to a surcharge, but the council aims to reduce this period to just one year.

The proposal, endorsed by the cabinet on 12 February, is slated for discussion by the full council on 21 February.

Hastings Borough Council aims to incentivize the return of vacant properties into use as primary residences, thereby addressing housing shortages.

Additionally, councillors are contemplating a 100% council tax premium on second homes in the district, planned to take effect from April 2025. This move aligns with recent decisions by Brighton, Lewes, Rother, Horsham, Adur, and Worthing councils, which have also implemented similar measures.

These actions come following councils being granted expanded powers in 2023 to address housing issues.

The council's proposal follows earlier warnings in July 2023, where officials cautioned that Hastings could face financial distress due to the rising demand for temporary accommodation. Furthermore, in November 2023, the council proposed a 10% increase in service charges as part of efforts to achieve £4 million in savings for the 2024/25 financial year. Photo by  N Chadwick, Wikimedia commons.