According to new regulations, thousands of households in London will see their council tax payments double starting in April.

 In an effort to raise more money and alleviate the housing problem, struggling boroughs want to raise payments for certain inhabitants and property owners by 100%.

According to Wandsworth Council, homeowners whose properties have been vacant and unfurnished for longer than a year will see their costs double for the first time, instead of twice. 

Under the idea, second-home properties will also be assessed twice the present council tax rate as of April 1.

This means that with the predicted 5% increase a standard Band D Wandsworth second home will pay around £1,500 a year, including the City Hall “precept” which Mayor Sadiq Khan uses to fund the Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade.

The same rules will be in place in Westminster from April 1.

If a resident is living in a second home because of the terms of their job, for example they are a caretaker or a member of the armed services, the charges will not apply.

However, residents who are living in a second central London property because it is “convenient” for their place of work will have to pay the extra charges.

The moves follow Hackney town hall, which signed off plans to double council tax premiums for the owners of empty properties and second homes from last April.

Westminster council also applies a premium of 200 per cent on homes that have not been lived in for more than five years and 300 per cent on homes empty for a decade.

Wandsworth and Westminster boroughs both set the lowest council tax in England.

Simon Hogg, the leader of Wandsworth council, said the number of second homes in Wandsworth has doubled since last year and “too many local families can’t find a place to call home”.

Last year the then Tory government strengthened rules allowing town halls to double council tax bills on long term empty and second homes.

It said local authorities will be able to “reinvest” the extra money in public services.

Research by the charity Crisis last year found the number of long-term empty properties had increased in every single English region since 2017.

In London there was a rise of 73 per cent. At the same time rents hit record highs. There were some 34,327 properties classed as "long-term vacant" in the capital last year, according to government data, with an estimated value of more than £20billion.