Owners of vacant residential properties in Angus could be forced to pay double council tax.
Angus Council can now remove empty property discounts or increase council tax by up to 100% on homes which have been unoccupied for more than a year.
The Scottish Government has given all local authorities the discretionary powers to encourage owners to return their properties to use.
Owners of empty homes in Angus will receive a survey which should be returned to the council in the pre-paid envelope provided by October 31.
A council spokeswoman said: “Bringing houses back into use increases the supply of local homes and reduces the blight on communities, caused by empty houses which fall into disrepair.
“Angus Council is surveying the owners of long-term empty properties in the county to gather information about the reasons for houses being left empty.
“The information will help the council to shape a change in its council tax policy for empty properties.”
Angus Council claims the change in legislation gives councils greater flexibility in relation to the council tax applied on long term empty properties.
Authorities were previously only able to vary the level of discount from the minimum of 10%.
The survey can also be completed at www.surveymonkey.com/s/j2yscff.