Two district councils have announced proposals to increase council tax on second and empty homes.

Under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, local authorities were given discretionary powers to impose council tax premiums on long-term empty properties and second homes.

South Cambridgeshire District Council has put forward plans to double council tax on both long-term vacant and second properties.

North West Leicestershire District Council has also proposed charging second homeowners double council tax, as well as charging people council tax from the first day they own an empty property, rather than after a month.

Both authorities would allow a year-long grace period for people who have inherited a property following a death, those who are actively marketing a property for rent or sale, and in the case of some repairs to the property.

In South Cambridgeshire, if the plans are approved by cabinet and then full council, the changes will come into force in April 2026.

The council’s lead cabinet member for finance, John Williams, said: ‘With record demands for housing and growing social housing waiting lists, more use must be made of the existing housing stock.’

North West Leicestershire has launched a survey on its proposals.

Its corporate portfolio holder, Nick Rushton, said: ‘In a time when we’re looking at all our services and how we can make this council as efficient and financially stable as possible, it’s sensible to look at increasing income in some areas of our council tax billing.’