LEADING members of a local authority which is battling to increase housing supply are set to consider action to cut the number of long-term empty properties.

Richmondshire District Council’s corporate board will debate abolishing the 100 per cent council tax discount for the first month of any empty property and for properties which been empty for more than two years the premium levied increases from an extra 50 per cent of the council tax rating to 100 per cent.

For properties that have been empty for more than five years it is proposed the premium increases from 50 per cent to 200 per cent and from April 2021 the premium for properties empty for more than 10 years increases to 300 per cent.

The council’s leader, Councillor Angie Dale said the authority was striving to be proactive. She said: “There is a shortage of housing in Richmondshire and this is about filling those empty properties. This is about people taking responsibility for empty properties.”