Council tax on empty and second homes in East Renfrewshire could be doubled as part of efforts to bring properties back into use.

Plans set to go before councillors suggest removing a 10% council tax discount on long-term empty and second homes, and introducing a premium of up to 100% from April 1 next year.

It comes as East Renfrewshire Council faces “extreme pressures” on its housing services, as waiting lists have more than doubled in three years.

The latest figures show 124 long-term empty homes in East Renfrewshire, with 77 vacant for over 12 months, while there are 64 second homes. The current discount is costing the council around £33,000 per year.

Cabinet members will be asked to back the changes, and the recruitment of an empty homes officer, at a meeting next Thursday.

The premium on second homes would be subject to Scottish Parliament approval.

Long-term empty homes are properties which have been vacant for more than six months and are liable for council tax. Double the full rate can be applied to homes empty for over 12 months. Second homes are properties that are furnished and lived in for at least 25 days in a 12-month period but aren’t a main residence.

Council tax discount on second homes in East Renfrewshire was cut from 50% to 10% in 2009/10. However, the 10% discount for both long-term empty properties and second homes remains. East Renfrewshire is “only one of a small number” of councils to provide a discount for long-term empty homes, officials have reported.

Long-term empty homes can be charged the 100% premium while second home owners can currently be asked to pay the full rate of council tax. 

The Scottish Government has revealed plans to allow a 100% premium on second homes too. If approved, second homes would be brought into line with long-term empty properties from April 1, 2024.

In the report, officials stated: “Given that East Renfrewshire is now one of only a small number of councils providing a discount for long-term empty and second homes, and the demand for housing within Scotland and locally, it is proposed that the discount is removed from April 1, 2024.”

They added the 100% premium would “provide support to bring long-term empty homes back into use”. The council is under pressure due to a “critical lack of capacity in local housing markets”, the report stated, with the total number of people on the waiting list now at 6,175.

Empty homes have also attracted a range of anti-social behaviour issues, including vandalism, arson, fly-tipping, according to officials. Housing services have responded to 87 complaints over the past eight years.

An empty homes officer is set to be employed to help provide a “carrot and stick approach” to tackling the issue. They would support owners to bring homes back into use by offering advice.

The role would be funded by the removal of the 10% discount, and the officer could lead on the development of an empty homes loan fund or grant scheme. During consultation, empty and second home owners did not welcome paying extra council tax but 18 of 57 respondents indicated they would benefit from an advice service.