OWNERS of properties left empty for too long could be hit by having to pay double the council tax.

Swindon Borough Council’s audit committee has asked officers to look into the feasibility of charging double the tax for houses and flats that are left uninhabited,

Committee chairman Councillor Steve Weisinger said: “We’ve asked for a report, particularly on how many empty houses there are and will make a decision on whether it seems worth doing. I’d like to see those figures, and then the audit committee will make a recommendation to cabinet.”

Councillor Roger Smith said there were a number of empty properties in his ward of St Margaret and South Marston, and was cautiously supportive of the idea.

He said: “Residents get very frustrated by houses lying empty. There’s one in Hardie Close and it’s upsetting the neighbours. They are normally overgrown and there are birds getting into the roof space and rats . It also frustrates the residents that however much they company the council seems to be able to very little and what it can do, it does very slowly.”

Speaking of the idea of increasing the council tax to double for empty houses Coun Smith a Conservative, said: “I think it needs careful looking at, and more work and thought about whether it would work.

“There would have to be a length of time for a property to be empty, but |I think it’s potentially a helpful measure to help bring empty properties back into use.

“In principle I think I would support it.”

At the meeting of the audit committee where the idea was mooted, vice-chairman Coun Mary Martin (C, Shaw) said: “I own a few properties, not many but a few. And I cannot see why anyone would want to leave houses empty rather than get a return and an income from them."

Director of finance at Euclid Street Mick Bowden pointed out that until relatively recently empty homes had drawn a discount in council tax.

New legislation passed this year allows local authorities to charge double the council tax on long-term empty houses.

At the moment the council charges owners 150 per cent of the normal council tax rate if a home has been left empty for more than two years.

The Band D rates for a house in Swindon range between £1,660-£1,690 depending on the parish area.

Currently an empty house will attract a council tax of around £2,500. If the council does decide to double the tax, the standard Swindon home, if left empty, could cost its owner more than £3,300.