PLANS for increased penalties on vacant homes, which could see council tax bills quadrupled for the worst offenders, have been praised by opposition leaders in County Durham.

But the county’s Liberal Democrats have also slammed a ‘tribal mentality’ which saw their own similar proposals rejected earlier this year by the ruling Labour group.

Durham County Council is consulting over plans to hit landlords in the pocket if they fail to get empty properties back on the market.

Councillor Mark Wilkes, housing spokesman for the council’s Lib Dem group, said: “It’s the same every year. We make proposals to improve County Durham, cut waste or improve services. Labour votes it down then brings it in a year or two later.”

He was backed by Durham’s Lib Dem leader, Coun Amanda Hopgood, who added: “Labour have presided over years of empty homes problems in the County with many properties sat empty for decades. This increase in council tax for long-term empty homes, will put the pressure on to get these properties back into use.”

Currently, anyone responsible for a ‘long-term empty’ property, defined as ‘unoccupied and unfurnished for more than two years’ can be stung with an extra 50 per cent on their council tax bill.

The power to do this was implemented in April 2013 and, according to the county council, saw the number of dwellings in this category slashed by a third in just six months.

In their rejected proposals for the council’s 2019/20 budget, Lib Dems called for a 200 per cent premium on properties unoccupied for more than five years, rising to 300 per cent after ten. They claimed the measures could raise more than £1.5 million.

The council proposals ,which follow the introduction of new government guidelines, this would rise to 100 per cent for homes left empty for two to five years, doubling bills and up to 200 per cent added for any property which vacant for more than five years.

Announcing the consultation, Coun Alan Napier, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for resources, said: “The policy is designed to motivate owners to bring these homes back into use, which will boost the supply of affordable properties available to rent in the county.”