OWNERS of empty homes across Cherwell could be charged almost £200 a year in a bid to reduce vacant housing.

Currently the district council charges £123.50 for empty properties but it has agreed to increase council tax by 50 per cent. Cherwell currently has 114 homes that have been vacant for two years.

It was also estimated that if just 10 of these existing empty properties were brought back into use over the next six years it would generate an additional £67,000 to Cherwell District Council under the New Homes Bonus – a grant given to councils for increasing the number of homes in use.

Once the new premium is implemented the council will enquire into why individual homes have been left empty.

There are exceptions to the scheme such as if the home is owned by someone in the armed forces stationed abroad or is “genuinely” on the housing market for sale or rent.

The scheme will be implemented from April 1, 2016.