OWNERS of empty properties could face stiffer council tax charges in a bid to help bring them back into use.

Following the Government granting flexibility on the amount of discounts awarded to empty properties in 2013, Blackburn with Darwen Council introduced a premium charge of 50 per cent on properties that had been empty for more than two years.

Now proposals are set to go before a council forum meeting to increase the premium charge from 50 per cent to 100 per cent.

With effect from April, councils have been given further flexibility to increase the premium charge from 50 per cent to 100 cent for long term empty properties.

In addition, from 2020/21 councils will also be able to increase the premium for properties which have been vacant for five years or more to 200 per cent, and from 2021/22, increase the premium for properties which have been vacant for ten years or more to 300 per cent.

Based on the current data, the borough has 477 properties that have been empty for more than 2 years.

Of the 477 properties that have remained empty over two years, 129 have remained empty for more than five years, with a further 62 empty for more than 10 years.

Louise Mattinson, director of finance, said: "The main driver for the introduction of the premium was to incentivise owners of long term empty properties to bring them back into use.

"Any property that is brought back into use will provide financial benefits in the form of additional council tax income and new homes bonus.

"For the empty property premium to apply, properties must have been empty and substantially unfurnished for at least two years, excluding any occupation for less than six weeks.

"The liability for the empty homes premium is determined by the length of time that a property has been empty, irrespective of any change in ownership.

"It is expected that throughout a full financial year up to 550-600 properties could be affected by the change to the premium rate.

"Whilst the full impact on resources cannot be accurately detailed, it is widely expected that the change will increase customer contact and result in additional recovery activity.

"Whilst this policy change to increase the premium for empty properties does increase the collectable debit, it is not possible to estimate if additional council tax will be collected.

"It is widely expected that avoidance measures will be adopted by some council tax payers, namely, the claiming of occupation in the property or simply moving furniture into the property for it to be classed as a second home."

Hyndburn Council currently charges a 50 per cent premium on council tax bills for long term empty properties, as does Burnley Council.