Garff will become latest authority to charge rates on empty buildings

Garff is set to become the latest local authority to charge rates on empty buildings.

At a meeting of the board earlier this month, members discussed the policy of applying zero rating to buildings undergoing renovation or in uninhabitable or dilapidated states.

A report showed in the last five years there'd been 10 derelict buildings, and seven had been improved after the owners were contacted.

The board voted to charge rates on such buildings in future to encourage people to maintain them properly.