OWNERS of city homes left empty for more than five years look set to have their council tax bill tripled.

Worcester City Council wants to increase the amount it charges by 200 per cent from April for homes that have been empty for more than five years and 300 per cent for homes vacant for more than a decade.

Around 485 homes in the city that are empty would be applicable for higher council tax, according to the council.

The council expects to bring in an extra £100,000 a year if the 39 homes that have currently been left empty for five years or longer are all band D properties.

The city council would keep around 11 per cent of the money it brought in from the increased charges with the rest divided between the county council, fire service and police.

Of the homes, 93 homes have been empty for between six months a year, 25 have been empty for longer than five years and 14 have been empty for over a decade.

Fifty of the homes have been empty for between two and five years.

If an average band D property in Worcester, which would be expected to pay around £1,800 a year council tax, was left empty for five years the bill would increase to just under £5,500.

The same property would be charged roughly £7,250 if it was left empty for ten years or more.

The council currently charges an extra 50 per cent on top of the normal council tax bills for homes which have been empty for more than two years.

The city council’s communities committee meets to discuss the plans on October 28.