When a house is purchased during the legal searches, Councils should be required to let home buyers know if a house is subject to the Empty Property Premium. Depending on how long the house has been empty, new buyers could be stung with up to 500% in Council Tax.
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It is unfair that buyers are not being fully informed before making a house purchase. A first time buyer could see a house that needs work, and plan those works out over a yearly period, only for the purchase to go through and be told they have to pay thousands in Council Tax. It is only fair that buyers are aware of the risks before they buy.