Call for tax rise on empty homes

Oct 14 2008 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Panel chairman Clr Colin Stout said: “The problem of empty properties is one which needs closer examination. A reduction in the council tax discount could bring these empty properties back into play where they can be properly used by local people.”

He added that houses which are left empty for a long time attract crime with arson, vandalism and antisocial behaviour becoming a problem in areas where there are large numbers of them.