A YOUNG family hoping to get on the property ladder in Peebles claim 'unfair' council bills are preventing them moving into their dream home.

In recent weeks the local authority has bragged about the £600,000 it raised last year since imposing a 200 percent council tax levy on empty homes in the area.

But the move is also blocking some owners from progressing their dream home plans.

Helen Peat and Lewis McDonald bought a neglected cottage in Greenside earlier this year with hopes of turning it into their perfect family home.

The property's kitchen ceiling had collapsed, much of the flooring as well as the electrics were needing replaced and extensive damp treatment was required.

The couple from Edinburgh, who have just had their first baby, planned to carry out renovations and move in this autumn.

But just weeks after starting the project they were told they would have to pay £380 per month by Scottish Borders Council for empty property council tax. Helen told us: "The cottage is uninhabitable and all we want to do is carry out the renovations to allow us to move in.

"I am now on maternity leave from work and the council tax charge takes up the vast majority of my maternity pay - money we were hoping to use towards the repairs.

"We are now stuck in Edinburgh, living with my parents, as we struggle to meet the costs of the renovations."

Legislation introduced by the Scottish Government in 2013 gave local authorities the powers to increase the amount of council tax paid on a house which has been left empty for more than 12 months.

The move was intended to force owners into bringing their properties back into use and help ease the current shortage.

But there are exemptions for empty houses which are on the market, being advertised for rent, or being renovated to sell or live in.

Scottish Borders Council exercised the additional levy in 2016 and netted £611,881alone during 2017/18 from 1,316 empty homes.

Despite requesting an exemption from the 200 percent charge as well as making further appeals, Helen and Lewis's words have fallen on deaf ears.

Helen added: "The government state that exemptions from the additional council tax charges are available when the property is being renovated to either live in or to sell, yet Scottish Borders Council just ignore this.

"When we were waiting on a decision about our appeal we received a letter from the council threatening to take us to court for outstanding council tax - it was only when I phoned that they told me our appeal was unsuccessful.

"I've invited Scottish Borders Council to come and see the property for themselves and ask them how we can possibly live there but they don't want to know."

Helen and Lewis have now taken their case to local MSP Christine Grahame.

We also contacted Scottish Borders Council on their behalf.

A spokesman told us: "The application of the discretionary power is dependent on the circumstances of each individual case, which are often complex and subject to individual interpretation, as is the Scottish Government guidance.

“Although the council is unable to comment on individual cases due to privacy and data protection constraints, we will contact the owners directly to discuss their case further.”