Perth council approves 40 per cent rate hike in bid to stop antisocial behaviour

City of Vincent councillors have voted unanimously to increase rates on vacant residential properties within the local government area by more than 40 per cent.

The move is part of the city’s new budget for the upcoming financial year and aims to relieve some of the burden on ratepayers from illegal dumping and anti-social behaviour on vacant properties.

In a letter to ratepayers on the city’s website posted earlier this month ahead of Tuesday’s council meeting, Mayor Alison Xamon said they had called on feedback from property owners in the area in a bid to ensure rates were applied across different property classifications in a fair and equitable way.

“A higher rate increase of 40.9 per cent will be applied to vacant residential properties,” she said.

“This I hope, will relieve some of the burden put on ratepayers from illegal dumping and anti-social behaviour that happens on these vacant properties.

“We all want to feel safe in our neighbourhood, local parks and public spaces and at Vincent, we continue to work closely with WA Police, local services and homelessness and community partners to respond to issues across the city.

“Residents are urged to report antisocial and criminal behaviour to police.”

Speaking to ABC Perth on Wednesday, Xamon said the move had been prompted by “endless complaints from residents”.

“Some residents have raised with us concerns about the housing crisis that does come up occasionally, but really the main thing that residents talk about is the adverse impact on local amenity and community for long-term vacant pieces of land.

“So we are really responding to our community, who have continued to raise these concerns.”

However, Xamon pointed out that the council would be offering exemptions for land that becomes vacant or properties with an active building permit.

“So, what we have resolved last night unanimously by the council is that these particular lots will go up to the maximum allowable under the Local Government Act for residential,” she said.

“Obviously, it’s still less than people pay if they’ve got an actual house.

The council received a petition containing 80 signatures requesting that the council withdraw, reject or substantially reduce the proposed 40.9 per cent increase.

However, Xamon said the city had also received support for the proposal, and even one resident who pointed out that the rate increase was not enough.

“We did have a resident turn up last night to speak about the differential rates, and he said his concern was that he thought that it was insufficient,” she said.

“He proposed it neede