Council Tax Discount Changes
Council working to bring properties back to life
Blaenau Gwent Council has agreed a change to the Council Tax discount currently offered to owners of empty properties in the county borough. From April 2020 property owners will pay full Council Tax on properties that have been empty for over six months – they currently pay 50% of the bill. However, property owners are still exempt from paying any Council Tax for the first six months of a property being empty.
Many local authorities in Wales have already taken this important step in encouraging long-term empty properties back into use to regenerate communities and provide quality housing. There are a number of incentive schemes where owners can access funding to renovate properties with a view to them being brought back into use.
• Blaenau Gwent Council, in partnership with Welsh Government, provides interest-free loans for landlords to bring private rented properties up to standard or empty properties back into use. These loans are for owners who wish to sell or rent out the property and can be used for residential or the conversion of commercial buildings. Applicants can apply for a loan of up to £25,000 per unit, with a maximum of £250,000 per applicant. For more information E-mail housing@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk or call 01495 354600.
• If you are looking to renovate an empty property to live in you could be eligible for a grant of up to £20,000 funded by the Welsh Government’s Valleys Taskforce. Visit gov.wales/valleys-taskforce-empty-homes or phone 01443 281118.
The Council is enthusiastic about working with communities and partners to bring empty properties into use. In recent years we have issued 66 loans worth £941,727 to bring empty properties back into use.
For advice on bringing your empty property back into use please contact our empty property officer, Rhian Evans on 01495 357813 or email Rhian.evans@blaeanu-gwent.gov.uk