THE number of long-term empty properties in South Lakeland has reduced after a Council Tax discount was scrapped on second homes last year.

Eliminating the 10 per cent discount and imposing a 50 per cent premium on properties left vacant for longer than two years led to 149 fewer empty properties in the district.

The measures also raised an additional £1.5m in revenue for South Lakeland District Council (SLDC).

In 2013, the council agreed a range of Council Tax discount changes to affect second and vacant homes.

Scrapping the discount affected 3,900 properties in the financial year 2014/15.

A report presented to SLDC's cabinet said the measure raised an estimated £615,000, allowing the council to continue with a local Council Tax reduction scheme to support people on benefits or low incomes, and also offset a 10 per cent government grant reduction.

The 50 per cent discount on properties vacant for more than six months was also eliminated. This affected about 960 properties and generated an estimated £680,000 additional income.

Meanwhile, a Council Tax premium of 50 per cent was introduced on properties that were left vacant for longer than two years, to encourage owners to bring long-term empty properties back into use.

In April 2013, prior to the introduction of the premium, there were 545 properties that had been unoccupied for more than two years in the district, but the cabinet report says this had been reduced to 396.

Of these 396 properties 321 are paying the premium, raising an estimated income of £253,160, with 75 awarded an exception to the payment - typically where owners have been able to prove they were genuinely attempting to sell or let a property - at an estimated cost of £59,150.

Similarly, in April 2013 there were 1,230 properties that had been vacant for more than six months, including premium cases, but this has now reduced to 963.

Cllr Graham Vincent, portfolio holder with responsibility for revenues and benefits, said: “These figures demonstrate the council is achieving value for money and making sound financial decisions that support our priorities, including to create 1,000 new affordable homes for rent by 2025."