Johnson Calls For Massive Council Tax Rise for Empty Homes

Boris Johnson has called for "at least" a tenfold increase on council tax for the owners of empty homes to help to tackle Britain's housing crisis. The London mayor said he was urging London boroughs to "whack up" tax on property owners who allow their homes to stand empty for more than a year. Speaking on his Ask Boris show on LBC Radio, Johnson praised Labour-controlled Camden council for charging 150% council tax rates on homes that have been empty for more than two years. He claimed it was the only London borough to use the power, and urged others to do the same. But he went further by calling for a change in the law to allow councils to impose punitive 1,000% rates on the owners of vacant homes. Read more on the Guardian website.