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Wales Online
15-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Empty home owners in Gwynedd could soon face even bigger bills
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Councillors could consider upping the rate of council tax premiums on empty homes in Gwynedd to bring them in line with the rate for second homes in the county. The idea was discussed by councillors as they agreed to extend a project which is aiming to help fight a housing crisis in the county. Cyngor Gwynedd's cabinet approved a proposal to extend its Housing Action Plan [HAP] for another two years to the end of the 2028/29 financial year, at its meeting on Tuesday, May 13. The HAP includes 33 projects aimed at providing Gwynedd residents with access to "suitable, affordable and quality" homes. Among its objectives is tackling homelessness. The cabinet agreed to commit to providing a sum of £6m raised from the council tax premium fund, towards the HAP's extension. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday The council currently charges a 100% council tax premium on homes that have been empty for 12 months or more. It was suggested during the meeting that this could eventually be brought in line with the rate charged for second homes, which is currently 150%. Councillors are due to reassess the premium rates in December. Cabinet member for finance Cllr Huw Wyn Jones said he was "very supportive" of the premium being charged on empty homes. (Image: Cyngor Gwynedd) He said it felt "quite immoral" that there were empty homes around, when some people were "seeking a roof over their head". He asked: "Is it possible to increase the premium even higher on houses that are empty for longer terms? "I can't see any reason for a house to be empty for three, five or ten years. Can we set it even higher, to try and attract those houses back into use?" Cabinet member for housing and property, Cllr Paul Rowlinson, agreed, saying the HAP, used the money raised from the premiums. (Image: Cyngor Gwynedd) He said: "The current level of 100 percent on empty homes is acceptable, but as I said in the full council in December, it would be beneficial to increase the level of houses that have been empty for many years, where they have been paying 100 percent for several years, where the measures have not had the impact we wanted. "I am pleased that the HAP has brought 269 empty homes back into use, through direct support from the council. "This figure does not include houses that may have come back into use without support from the council, where people have been paying the premium but then decide to put their house on the market, or bring it back for use in some other way. "We should definitely consider increasing the premiums on empty homes, those which have been empty for a long time, but keep it at the current level for the ones that are just empty for a year or so." The Council's chief executive Dafydd Gibbard said the topic had been discussed "more than once" over the years. He said: "We did not want to increase the level at one period, but I think it was said last time, when the premium was being set, that we need to review the situation, to shift the rate for empty homes to the same rate for second homes." He added that work looking into the subject was already happening. "It is getting more difficult to justify the different rates," he said. He told councillors: "You will be setting the premiums again in December, when it will be time for you to decide if this is something you want to increase or not." Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
North Wales Live
15-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Empty home owners in Gwynedd could soon face even bigger bills
Councillors could consider upping the rate of council tax premiums on empty homes in Gwynedd to bring them in line with the rate for second homes in the county. The idea was discussed by councillors as they agreed to extend a project which is aiming to help fight a housing crisis in the county. Cyngor Gwynedd's cabinet approved a proposal to extend its Housing Action Plan [HAP] for another two years to the end of the 2028/29 financial year, at its meeting on Tuesday, May 13. The HAP includes 33 projects aimed at providing Gwynedd residents with access to "suitable, affordable and quality" homes. Among its objectives is tackling homelessness. The cabinet agreed to commit to providing a sum of £6m raised from the council tax premium fund, towards the HAP's extension. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday The council currently charges a 100% council tax premium on homes that have been empty for 12 months or more. It was suggested during the meeting that this could eventually be brought in line with the rate charged for second homes, which is currently 150%. Councillors are due to reassess the premium rates in December. Cabinet member for finance Cllr Huw Wyn Jones said he was "very supportive" of the premium being charged on empty homes. He said it felt "quite immoral" that there were empty homes around, when some people were "seeking a roof over their head". He asked: "Is it possible to increase the premium even higher on houses that are empty for longer terms? "I can't see any reason for a house to be empty for three, five or ten years. Can we set it even higher, to try and attract those houses back into use?" Cabinet member for housing and property, Cllr Paul Rowlinson, agreed, saying the HAP, used the money raised from the premiums. He said: "The current level of 100 percent on empty homes is acceptable, but as I said in the full council in December, it would be beneficial to increase the level of houses that have been empty for many years, where they have been paying 100 percent for several years, where the measures have not had the impact we wanted. "I am pleased that the HAP has brought 269 empty homes back into use, through direct support from the council. "This figure does not include houses that may have come back into use without support from the council, where people have been paying the premium but then decide to put their house on the market, or bring it back for use in some other way. "We should definitely consider increasing the premiums on empty homes, those which have been empty for a long time, but keep it at the current level for the ones that are just empty for a year or so." The Council's chief executive Dafydd Gibbard said the topic had been discussed "more than once" over the years. He said: "We did not want to increase the level at one period, but I think it was said last time, when the premium was being set, that we need to review the situation, to shift the rate for empty homes to the same rate for second homes." He added that work looking into the subject was already happening. "It is getting more difficult to justify the different rates," he said. He told councillors: "You will be setting the premiums again in December, when it will be time for you to decide if this is something you want to increase or not."
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Next stop for Washington housing: More construction near transit
An apartment building under construction in Olympia, Washington in January 2025. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard) Noticed apartment buildings cropping up next to bus and light rail stations? More could be on the way. Gov. Bob Ferguson on Tuesday signed House Bill 1491 into law, setting new state requirements for mixed-income housing development near transit and incentivizing this kind of construction. So-called 'transit-oriented development' allows for more dense housing, which Washington desperately needs, while also potentially reducing pollution as more people use buses and rail to commute instead of driving. 'This bill can help Washington meet its housing and environmental goals,' Ferguson said. 'I actually live very close to a light rail station and so I have some familiarity with this and how important it is.' The first cities eyed for development around transit are Vancouver and Spokane, the governor said. 'By 2029, we expect to see new zoning around 100 rail stations and more than 200 bus stations in the Puget Sound area,' Ferguson added. Incentivizing transit-oriented development was one of the top priorities included in Lt. Gov. Denny Heck's Housing Action Plan, developed during Ferguson's transition to the governor's office. Not only that, the report said no other policy would result in more homes than this one. Last year, a similar bill passed the House before stalling in the Senate. This year's measure requires Washington cities to allow housing development in what are called bus and rail 'station areas.' This includes places within a half-mile of a light rail station, commuter rail stop in a large city or a western Washington trolley system, like Seattle's Streetcar. It also covers areas within a quarter-mile of bus rapid transit stops. In these locations, the bill sets guidelines for how dense the housing must be. Developers would get to fit even more building square footage on their lots if they build affordable housing or so-called workforce housing intended for people earning low and moderate incomes. The bill also requires 10% of units to be considered affordable and 20% set aside for workforce housing for the next 50 years. The legislation defines affordable as not costing more than 30% of the income for renters who make up 60% of the county's median income or homeowners who make 80% of the median. Developers who meet the requirements would get a 20-year multifamily property tax exemption. And they'd get half off local impact fees meant to help pay for transportation projects to accommodate the population growth. Cities also can't require off-street parking, except spots dedicated for people with disabilities or delivery drivers. Under the legislation, the state Department of Commerce also needs to set up a new grant program to help cities build infrastructure to provide utilities and other services. The bill passed the Legislature along mostly party lines. Though supportive of the general concept, some Republicans objected to the affordability component, which they thought would drive developers away from building housing near transit. The legislation takes effect in late July. But implementation of the new requirements wouldn't come until 2029 for cities that updated their comprehensive plans last year. Cities that next revise their plans later than 2024 must follow the new rules within six months of updating. The piece of legislation is one of many Ferguson has signed in his first year to remove barriers to additional housing, including for condominiums. He also signed a bill last week to ease parking requirements that can pose a costly obstacle to development. It's the top issue he heard on the campaign trail last year, he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DCED highlights need for funding to make housing more affordable, accessible
May 11—Rick Siger, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) secretary, this week highlighted the Gov. Josh Shapiro Administration's commitment to ensuring all Pennsylvanians have access to safe, affordable housing. Advancing that commitment with common sense solutions, Shapiro's 2025-26 budget proposal calls for significant investments to restore and modernize Pennsylvania's aging housing stock with a new $50 million statewide housing repair fund to help homeowners struggling to make needed repairs to their aging homes, he said. The budget also proposes $10 million to help first-time home buyers cover closing costs, as well as $1 million in dedicated funding to the State Planning Board to help municipalities with growth-oriented housing policies. "The Shapiro Administration understands that we must address the long-standing affordable housing crisis to build resilient regions and open doors of opportunity for every Pennsylvanian," Siger said. "We are committed to making real progress on affordable housing to get people into good homes, grow our economy and lift up the entire Commonwealth." Last September, the Shapiro signed an executive order to create Pennsylvania's first ever Housing Action Plan. Since then, the Shapiro Administration has collected feedback from thousands of Pennsylvanians and worked directly with developers, nonprofits, local governments and labor leaders to create a comprehensive, coordinated, statewide housing solution, a press release stated. The final housing plan will be coming in the next few months, but the administration identified six steps that can be addressed to begin to solve this problem that are included in the governor's 2025-26 budget proposal, the press release stated, including: —Investing $50 million to create a new statewide housing repair fund to help homeowners struggling to make needed repairs to their aging homes. —Investing $10 million to help first-time home buyers cover closing costs — putting a roof over their head and giving them a real chance to build generational wealth here in the Commonwealth. —Staffing up the State Planning Board, so it can help local communities fix their permitting, zoning and code enforcement issues and build more homes. —Creating an Interagency Council on Homelessness to improve support and coordination for homeless people in Pennsylvania. —Continuing the progress made last year by increasing Pennsylvania's largest and most flexible affordable housing tool — the PA Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE) — by an additional $10 million to reach $110 million by the end of 2028. In the last two years, these funds have been used to begin construction on 2,000 new homes and apartments and repair another 3,200. —Sealing eviction records for people who were not actually evicted to help increase housing security and improve access to affordable housing and employment opportunities. State: Apply for Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Members of the Shapiro Administration this week announced the deadline for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program has been extended to Dec. 31, 2025. The extension provides more time for eligible older Pennsylvanians, widows and widowers, and residents with disabilities to apply for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2024. Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne and Department of Aging Acting Deputy Secretary Jonathan Bowman spoke about the recent impact of the PTRR program, explaining that last year the program delivered 522,434 rebates totaling $319.2 million to Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth. This was a major increase from the prior year — when 405,493 rebates totaling $192 million were distributed. So far this year, the Department of Revenue has received approximately 400,000 PTRR applications, outpacing the record number of applications received at this time last year. "We want to make sure that Pennsylvanians realize the impact the expansion of the PTRR program is making in every county throughout the Commonwealth," Browne said. "If you're eligible for the program, the extension of the filing deadline gives you more time to take advantage of a rebate that could make a big difference in your life." "Affordable housing remains the biggest concern for older adults across Pennsylvania. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is a powerful tool to help ease this burden for many older Pennsylvanians, allowing them to stay in their homes longer and thrive in their communities," said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. Laughlin bill modernizing slot machines moves forward Legislation sponsored by Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, to give Pennsylvania casinos greater operational flexibility this week cleared the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee. Senate Bill 666 eliminates the outdated statutory requirement that Category 1 and Category 2 casinos must operate a minimum of 1,500 slot machines, regardless of demand. Instead, it allows gaming operators to adjust the number of machines on their floors based on business needs — while still requiring regulatory approval for significant reductions. "Let's face it, the gaming landscape has changed dramatically since 2006," Laughlin said. "Competition is fierce, and rigid mandates no longer serve the industry or the public. This bill is about common sense and keeping our casinos competitive without sacrificing oversight or revenue." Laughlin emphasized that casinos are in the business of making money, and that excessive regulation and exorbitant tax rates put them at risk. "We cannot hamstring these businesses with inflexible laws that don't reflect today's market," he said. "Casinos provide thousands of family-sustaining jobs across Pennsylvania and contribute substantial gaming revenue to local communities. We cannot afford to see that disappear because of outdated or unnecessary mandates." Under Senate bill 666, casinos that wish to reduce their slot machine count by more than 2% must apply to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, which will conduct a full review to ensure there is no negative impact on revenue, taxes, employment or surrounding communities. Senate Bill 666 now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Argall bills advance to address workforce crisis Legislation authored by Sen. Dave Argall, R-Pottsville, to encourage more employees to join the long-term care workforce was approved with bipartisan support by the Senate today. "Too many of our families, including mine, have faced the difficult decision of moving a parent or grandparent into a long-term care center," Argall said. "The professionals who make sure they are cared for are facing increasing challenges because of workforce shortages." Senate Bill 115 would allow individuals without a high school diploma or GED to take a skills competency examination to receive their long-term care employee certification. This bill was approved by a bipartisan vote of 47-3 by the Senate. It advances to the House of Representatives for consideration. Additional legislation authored by Argall to address the long-term care workforce crisis was approved by the Senate Education Committee. Senate Bill 114 would expand both the availability of long-term care training courses for nurse aides and the eligibility for individuals to take the nurse aide competency exam. The bill was approved by a vote of 7-4. It advances to the full Senate for consideration. The number of Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older is expected to double by the year 2040. Despite this sharp increase, labor statistics revealed that from 2019 to 2022, Pennsylvania saw a 14% decrease in long-term care professionals. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Housing Boost For Wellington As WCC Extends Te KaingaW
Press Release – Wellington City Council The Committee approved Councillor Geordie Rogers amendment to the Housing Action Plan, seconded by Councillor Rebecca Matthews, which will extend Te Kainga by five years and increase the supply of affordable rental properties in Wellington. In a move to tackle housing affordability, Wellington City Council's Environment and Infrastructure Committee today voted 14-4 to extend the successful Te Kainga programme to 2033, paving the way for an extra 500 affordable rental homes. The Committee approved Councillor Geordie Rogers' amendment to the Housing Action Plan, seconded by Councillor Rebecca Matthews, which will extend Te Kainga by five years and increase the supply of affordable rental properties in Wellington. The decision adds five years to the two-year extension, starting in 2026, that officers had recommended. 'This decision extends our commitment to addressing the urgent need for affordable housing in Wellington,' says Cr Rogers. 'Housing people in our city centre creates vibrancy, reduces the city's emissions, and comes at no cost to ratepayers.' 'Te Kainga has already had a positive impact, and this extension builds on that success,' says Cr Matthews. Mayor Tory Whanau said the commitment to 1,500 new affordable rental homes represented a significant step in tackling housing affordability in Wellington. 'Working with our partners, we are making real progress in addressing one of our city's most pressing challenges and creating a more equitable Wellington for all,' says Mayor Whanau. Under Te Kainga, the Council partners with building owners to convert former office buildings into quality, family-friendly, affordable rental housing. The initiative aims to provide long-term affordable rentals in the city. Te Kainga currently has 290 apartments, including 78 that are in partnership with Victoria University. The upcoming addition of 183 new apartments, agreed upon by the Council for later this year, will bring the programme to nearly half of its initial goal of 1000 units by 2026. Besides providing affordable rentals, Te Kainga repurposes vacant commercial and office buildings, improving their earthquake safety. Sense Partners' research showed that the programme is also expected to bring several economic benefits, including savings on transport costs and more efficient use of city infrastructure.
