Consultation on proposals to increase council tax for empty and unfurnished homes in Lewes district

We would like to hear your views over proposals to increase council tax for empty and unfurnished homes in Lewes district.

Under the proposals we would stop providing a 100% council tax discount for the first month that a home is empty and unfurnished, known as a ‘Class C’ discount.

Why are we proposing this change?

The benefits of this proposal would be that property owners would be encouraged to bring empty homes back into use more quickly, income from council tax would increase and the administration costs of processing these discounts would be reduced.

The additional income raised will be around £180,000 per year. The Lewes District Council’s share of this income, around £28,000 per year, would be used to support some of our most vulnerable claimants who claim other forms of council tax reduction. The remainder would go to East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

• Have your say

The closing date of this consultation is Thursday 31 December 2019 at 5pm

You are able to keep up to date with our articles, news and publications by following us on our social media channels below: