A meeting of Hastings Borough Council’s cabinet on Monday evening (12 February) approved proposals to bring forward the period from two years to one year when an unoccupied and substantially unfurnished dwelling can be charged double the standard rate of council tax.

Under previous law, double-charging was only permitted to councils when properties had been empty for at least two years, but this period has been reduced to one year by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. The Act also allows a 100% premium to be charged on second homes from April 2025, which the cabinet also approved.

The change is designed to incentivise owners to use residential properties as their main home or allow others to use them as a main home. It is also hoped that the policy will allow more empty homes or unoccupied homes to be brought back into use, as well as bringing in additional income for the council.

The cabinet also debated a revised draft budget for 2024/25 following a presentation by Cllr Paul Barnett, now no longer council leader but still lead councillor for finance, revealing what he called a “more positive” picture of the council’s finances. Numbers of households needing emergency accommodation are “starting to stabilise”, and savings that the council agreed to make across other services in December are bearing fruit. The budget also no longer includes costs for building the hotel at Cornwallis Street on the basis that Whitbread will build the hotel at their own expense following purchase.

There is, however, a 2.99% rise in the borough council element of council tax (representing an increase of 17p a week and £8.93 a year for a Band D property).

Cllr Barnett said before the meeting: “The Government settlement is yet again a real terms cut for Hastings after allowing for inflation, and they also expect us to increase council tax by the maximum allowed of 2.99%. We know that an increase in council tax is not something that people want to hear, but this increase is less than inflation has been in the last year, and we are continuing to offer reduction to those who are unable to afford to pay.”


We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.

https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/news.jpghttps://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/news.jpgHIPNewsHastings Borough Council,Levelling Up and Regeneration Act,Paul BarnettA meeting of Hastings Borough Council’s cabinet on Monday evening (12 February) approved proposals to bring forward the period from two years to one year when an unoccupied and substantially unfurnished dwelling can be charged double the standard rate of council tax. Under previous law, double-charging was only permitted to...The Hastings & St Leonards non-profit community newspaper