IRRV Alert - week ending 8th June 2018
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Lords debates Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Bill
Lords debates Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Bill
Members of the Lords, including the vice-chair of the Local Government Association and the president of the National Association of Local Councils, discussed the key principles and purpose of the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Bill during second reading, on Monday 4 June.
- Catch up on Parliament TV
- Read the Lords Hansard transcript
- Bills and legislation: Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Bill
- Lords Library note - Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages
- What is second reading?
Members discussed a number of subjects covered by the bill, including the practices of the Valuation Office Agency, national housing shortages and support for councils in the efficient use of existing housing stock.
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative), parliamentary under-secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will respond on behalf of the government.
Committee stage, the first chance for line-by-line scrutiny, is yet to be scheduled.
Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Bill summary
This bill aims to:
- retrospectively reinstate particular features of business rates valuation practice in relation to contiguous properties
- allow local authorities to charge up to a 100 per cent council tax premium for ‘long-term empty dwellings’.