Douglas derelict building owners warned rate relief to end
Watons said there were "plenty of buildings" that could be homes, businesses or community facilities but were "left to decay because no one's had to pay rates on them".Under the new approach, the council would "create an incentive to either renovate the property or sell it to someone who will bring it into use".Anyone who buys a currently uninhabitable building will receive a two-year exemption to give them time to renovate. He said the council should be "encouraging people to invest in their properties.""The goal is to establish a practice to get these properties redeveloped", Watson said, adding the alternative to bringing buildings back in to use was to build on green field sites or high-density areas.
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