Powys asks residents whether council tax premium on long-term empty homes should rise

# What's happening

Powys County Council has opened a public consultation asking residents, businesses, community organisations and other stakeholders for their views on how the authority should treat long-term empty homes. The council currently applies a 100% council tax premium to properties that have been empty and unfurnished for more than one year. Welsh Government regulations allow local authorities to charge a maximum premium of up to 300%.

# Why this matters locally

Long-term empty properties reduce the supply of housing and can affect neighbourhoods. The premium is intended to encourage owners to bring such properties back into use, which could increase affordable housing supply and support community sustainability. Powys wants feedback on whether reducing long-term empty properties should be a priority for the authority and how any change to the premium would affect owners and communities.

# What the council is asking

The consultation asks three main questions:

• Whether the council should keep the current 100% premium or introduce a stepped approach that increases the premium the longer a property remains empty.
• How empty properties are affecting local communities and housing availability.
• Whether reducing long-term empty properties should be a council priority compared with other housing and community goals.

# Scale of the issue in Powys

Powys currently has 897 long-term empty properties subject to the premium, representing around 1.3% of all homes in the county. The consultation will help the council decide whether a higher or stepped premium is an effective and fair tool for bringing these homes back into use.

# What council leaders say

# How to take part

• Complete the online survey.

• Return completed paper forms to library staff, or scan and email them to haveyoursay@powys.gov.uk.

The closing date for responses is 19 August 2026.

# What may follow

The consultation will inform the council's decision on whether to maintain the current premium or adopt a stepped increase model. Any change would be aimed at bringing empty homes back into the housing stock, but further details or implementation steps would depend on the council's assessment of feedback and priorities.

# Practical takeaway

If you live, work, or run a business in Powys and have views on how empty properties affect your area or on potential council tax premium changes, respond by 19 August 2026 using the online survey or the paper option at local libraries.