Householders who leave their homes empty for 10 years could face paying four times their usual council tax bill in North Hertfordshire.

Finance chiefs have released papers detailing plans for new premiums on empty homes across Letchworth, Baldock, Hitchin, Knebworth and Royston.

The authority has admitted that owners of band G homes which are not lived in would pay £13,973.96 in council tax by 2025/26.

Band G homes, which had a value between £160,001 and £320,000 in 1991, have a higher value than the "average" band D.

MPs and peers have passed a series of laws since 2018 which give councils the power to charge a 100 per cent premium after a property is left empty for one year, rising to 300 per cent after 10 years.

"The policy intention is to give further powers to councils to encourage owners of long-term empty properties to bring these back into occupation," the North Herts Council papers read.

"If the policy intention of bringing homes back into occupation is realised then additional premiums currently being paid will cease, reducing income to the council."

They add: "The council's consideration of increasing premiums is not driven by raising income through this approach."

Homeowners whose properties become empty do not pay council tax for the first 56 days.

The full council tax amount is due from day 57. After two years, council tax bills double.

If the plans are agreed upon at a meeting on February 6 the authority will double empty homeowners' council tax bills after one year from April 2025.

Homeowners who leave properties empty for five years but less than 10 years will face a 150 per cent premium from April this year, rising to 200 per cent from April 2025.

A 200 per cent premium will kick in after 10 years from April 2024, rising to 300 per cent from 2025.

The authority currently offers householders whose properties are second homes a 10 per cent discount.

According to the authority's new plans, these residents could pay a 100 per cent premium – double the council tax bill.

North Herts Council statistics found 70 empty properties in its area in 2013. The figure has more than doubled to 157 by 2023.