People renting could face moving into rundown and neglected houses after Swale council decided on a cut to the short-term empty home discount period.

This applies mainly to landlords, who pay lower reduced council tax on properties during the time between tenants moving out and others moving in.

At a cabinet on Wednesday, councillors agreed with a recommendation to slash the period of reduced payments from three months to four weeks.

This follows it being cut in April 2013 from six months to three months – something that angered many landlords.

Houses needing major renovation and structural repair work are eligible for Class A uninhabitable properties discount.

But concerns have been raised that as homes needing minor maintenance work are not eligible, some landlords may avoid carrying out these necessary repairs to avoid paying more council tax.

Hasmita Reardon, of Reardon Properties, is responsible for a number of houses is Sittingbourne and the surrounding area.

She said: “I’m worried if they don’t give you time to repair homes, it will encourage more bad landlords to quickly turn properties around to put them back on the market.

“It is good landlords that will be punished.”

But council officers defended the decision, arguing they met with the Landlords Association prior to the recommendation.

Swale council revenues and benefits manager Zoe Kent said: “I mentioned we were going out to consultation – perhaps they thought we would not go with it. ”

The changes become effective from April 1, 2015.

There will also begin a 50% council tax premium on properties that have been empty for two years or more.