THE number of homes standing empty in South Lakeland has fallen following the introduction of new charges - according to a council report.
South Lakeland District Council brought in a fee for property owners last April which meant they had to pay 50 per cent of council tax even if the house was empty.
Now a report says the number of homes empty for two years or more has fallen by 178 – from 545 when the charge came in to 367 in October.
More than 320 owners of properties were now paying the 50 per cent premium, bringing an extra £250,000 in revenue to the council.
SLDC also scrapped a 10 per cent discount that second home owners could claim so that they had to pay the full rate of council tax – that measure brought in an estimated £600,000, says the report.
A 50 per cent council tax discount for those with homes in the area vacant for six months or more was also discontinued and has brought in a further £700,000.
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