The Scottish government has passed a bill which will give local authorities the power to double the level of council tax on empty homes.

The Unoccupied Properties Bill is intended to deal with the 25,000-plus long term empty homes across Scotland

Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said: "While people across Scotland need new homes, it is completely unacceptable that 25,000 houses are lying empty long term and of no use to anybody.

"Not only that, empty homes can become a magnet for vandalism and anti-social behaviour, dragging down whole communities.

"The ability to increase council tax on empty properties will give councils a new and crucial tool to tackle this problem and encourage owners to bring homes back into use.”

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The Bill comes as Holyrood introduces further measures to deal with empty commercial properties by reducing rates relief. The government believes this will provide incentives for owners to work harder to find occupants for shops and offices.

The measures will also include the Fresh Start Scheme; a 50% rates discount available to anyone taking on a shop or office that has been empty for twelve months.

Local Government Minister Derek Mackay said: "Empty commercial properties are a blight on our high streets and these reforms will help bring them back into use and bring new life to our town centres."

But CBI have responded negatively to the measures, viewing them as a tax hike.

CBI Scotland's assistant director, David Lonsdale, said: "The vote by MSPs to introduce this £18m a year tax rise on businesses with empty premises is very disappointing. It is a tax on distress and is wholly at odds with Scottish Government promises to promote economic growth.

"Coupled with the retail levy introduced earlier this year, this now means £131m of new additional business rate taxes are being introduced during the current 3-year spending review period."

(IT)