EMPTY home owners in West Berkshire will soon have to pay up to four times as much council tax if they have been left empty for too long.

From April this year, owners of homes left empty for more than two years will have to pay twice as much council tax as if people were living in them. This is an increase from the current 150 per cent rate.

Homes left empty for more than five years will pay three times as much council tax from April 2020. Then from April 2021, homes left empty for more than 10 years will pay four times as much council tax compared with if they in use.

Dominic Boeck, West Berkshire Council’s lead for corporate services, said: “This will help to reduce the number of empty houses and generate extra income for the council.”

The extra tax could raise £377,000 income for the council.

Hilary Cole, the lead councillor for housing, said: “Empty homes in the district should be available to provide the much needed accommodation we need.”

There are 89 homes in West Berkshire that have empty for more than two years, out of a total of 68,345 domestic properties. This has reduced from 164 homes in 2013, when the current 50 per cent premium charge was introduced. There are 23 homes in the district that have been empty for more than five years.

If the property is up for sale and there are ‘genuine reasons’ why the property cannot be sold, the council will consider leaving the premium charge at 50 per cent. The higher tax won’t be charged to owners of furnished second homes or holiday homes.