Page 13 | Second Home owners doing sad faces in the press about council tax increase

CornishTickler · 2025-04-12T08:58:41+00:00

Just read an article online about the second home council tax increase and there are couples with sad faces saying it was without warning and is against their human rights! It wasn't, its been in the press and talked about by councils for over a year. It wasn't a surprise, areas with high levels of second homes knew it was coming. I for one am glad about the tax. Our village has been destroyed by second home owners for years. A lot are badly maintained and empty for 80% of the year. The argument that they bring extra income is also misleading. Most true second home owners who only visit a couple of times a year don't contribute much to the economy but are very vocal in interfering in local issues to the detriment of actual residents. One example (I'm not joking on this) was to oppose the planning of a local business that would benefit the community with jobs and tax revenue because of the endangered newts! luckily common sense prevailed but honestly they got very vocal and aggressive about it. It was mainly because they didn't want it to impact their second home. Holiday makers bring revenue. Absentee second home owners do not. Hopefully the second home tax increase will increase council tax revenue and help to support our community and vulnerable people.

ShanghaiDiva · 12/04/2025 12:32

Ddakji · 12/04/2025 12:29

I don’t disagree with your figures but describing libraries and swimming pools as frills and fripperies is a bit off.

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I think the poster is being ironic.

Langdale3 · 12/04/2025 12:29

Swiftie1878 · 12/04/2025 12:16

I understand that, but none of the ire is directed towards those who have sold out. Only towards those who have bought (and often paid more than any local would) in good faith.

As I say, I own a second home and am happy (well, you know.. 😂) with the policy, even though there’s no housing shortage where ours is.

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I live in an area blighted by holiday homes but I’m not interested in ‘ire’ or blame.

I just want pragmatic, fair solutions that will free up under used homes for growing families and people who want to take up employment in the area but cannot find a place to live in.

Currently, businesses struggle to recruit skilled workers from out of the area due to the severity of the housing shortage. Hospitality businesses cannot recruit enough because workers cannot live in.

Ddakji · 12/04/2025 12:29

SpanThatWorld · 12/04/2025 12:26

90% of council budget is spent on statutory services, primarily social care for both children and adults.

The rest goes to the frills and fripperies like libraries, parks, swimming pools etc.

People are incredibly ignorant about what councils spend money on.

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I don’t disagree with your figures but describing libraries and swimming pools as frills and fripperies is a bit off.

AgnesX · 12/04/2025 12:28

Davros · 12/04/2025 10:33

It’s not always that simple. DH had Parkinson’s and, due to his inability to work, we got into debt and had to sell our beloved family home of 25 years. We then rented but decided to buy a holiday home, not really a second home as we didn’t own another. We were able to get away easily as we couldn’t travel abroad any more due to his illness, the last time I went abroad was 2019. We let the house out to help pay for it but it’s not a “business”. Sorry if you don’t agree with it and I understand in principle, but it’s not always just what opponents think.

In what way is it not a business. Just because you don't perceive it to be one because of your reasons doesn't mean it's not. You're still transacting for money.

That's the problem with these things. Everyone has a reason why they shouldn't pay.

SpanThatWorld · 12/04/2025 12:26

tamade · 12/04/2025 11:43

Agree with @CornishTickler up to a point, but whatever additional income the council gets will be wasted on vanity projects not used to make practical improvements for the community (and then the only outcome is to punish).

90% of council budget is spent on statutory services, primarily social care for both children and adults.

The rest goes to the frills and fripperies like libraries, parks, swimming pools etc.

People are incredibly ignorant about what councils spend money on.

Ddakji · 12/04/2025 12:25

CornishTickler · 12/04/2025 12:00

Let me just be clear on this point as its brought up a lot.

If its a Local selling the property as a second home or a non resident selling it, both are equally part of the problem. So this argument is irrelevant and doesn't actually look at solving the problem just shifting blame.

It doesn't matter who sells or who buys, we need to increase revenue from persistently vacant properties for the community. This will help towards significant problems of homelessness and deprivation that are impacting the community. These are very real and urgent problems we are facing.

Yes, both are equally part of the problem but you seem to be lacking the same derision to those who sell as to second home owners. Perhaps the sellers need a financial penalty as well?

The situation is different in London where much second home ownership is from developers selling offplan to overseas investors, before the property has even made it into the local market.

Trolleysaregoodforemployment · 12/04/2025 12:24

CautiousLurker01 · 12/04/2025 11:04

Of course they do. They’re multimillionaires. 3-4k surcharge on their £2-5m luxury home is peanuts.

It’s the more modest second home owners, with 3-4beds who were probably planning to retire into them in due course. Unlikely to want to do that if the depth of local feeling as expressed on threads like this is anything to go by. I’d not want to retire to such a community that gloats that I need to pay more CT than everyone else when actually using the services its funds for less than 50% of the time. But I don’t own a second home yet.

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When there is a shortage of homes there is no such thing as a modest second home owner.

NeelyOHara · 12/04/2025 12:23

EasternStandard · 12/04/2025 11:49

True. That person could have sold at a lower price to another local instead. It’s hard to say no to a higher offer.

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Only if you re just as greedy as the second home owners you are slagging off.

Justmeandtwokids · 12/04/2025 12:22

TonTonMacoute · 12/04/2025 12:01

You can apply to the council for exemption.

We are selling MiLs house (in Cornwall!) which we inherited and do not have to pay double as it's on the market.

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We can get the exemption when it's on the market. Which is not because we don't have probate yet. If there was no living joint owner we would get the exemption but because there is we can't

Justmeandtwokids · 12/04/2025 12:21

Hwi · 12/04/2025 12:07

You are fully exempted until you get probate sorted out? Surely?

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No, because there is a surviving joint owner. Who hasn't lived there for over a decade.

Miffsmum · 12/04/2025 12:18

I agree. I remember reading (a few years ago now) of a village in Devon full of empty second homes for most of the year. The residents’ children could not afford to buy and there were no houses available anyway. The second home owners brought their own food etc and didn’t contribute to the local economy in any way.

CautiousLurker01 · 12/04/2025 12:17

CornishTickler · 12/04/2025 12:10

Local people are not one homogeneous group.

There will be some that are greedy and some that are on the bones of their arse due to the dire situation.

So yes, locals have a right to be up in arms because we all have a point of view.

The majority want the situation to be addressed and thankfully it is being addressed.

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Second home owners aren’t one homogenous group either…

Swiftie1878 · 12/04/2025 12:16

CornishTickler · 12/04/2025 12:10

Local people are not one homogeneous group.

There will be some that are greedy and some that are on the bones of their arse due to the dire situation.

So yes, locals have a right to be up in arms because we all have a point of view.

The majority want the situation to be addressed and thankfully it is being addressed.

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I understand that, but none of the ire is directed towards those who have sold out. Only towards those who have bought (and often paid more than any local would) in good faith.

As I say, I own a second home and am happy (well, you know.. 😂) with the policy, even though there’s no housing shortage where ours is.

NeelyOHara · 12/04/2025 12:14

Ddakji · 12/04/2025 11:32

I have no skin in this game aside from being in London which has the biggest percentage of second home owned properties in the country, not that anyone ever considered the impact of that.

But to everyone in Cornwall or wherever complaining about second home owners - you do realise it was someone from your village, your community, a local, who chose to sell their home to a second home owner in the first place? I wonder how many say to their estate agent - no second home owners please. Precious few I would guess.

Yeah, they never blame themselves for selling their houses to second home owners though. They could sell to a local family, but don’t.

Scrowy · 12/04/2025 12:11

CornishTickler · 12/04/2025 12:00

Let me just be clear on this point as its brought up a lot.

If its a Local selling the property as a second home or a non resident selling it, both are equally part of the problem. So this argument is irrelevant and doesn't actually look at solving the problem just shifting blame.

It doesn't matter who sells or who buys, we need to increase revenue from persistently vacant properties for the community. This will help towards significant problems of homelessness and deprivation that are impacting the community. These are very real and urgent problems we are facing.

Quite.

And certainly in our village it isn't 'locals selling to second home owners' for years second home owners have been the only ones able to afford to buy the properties from other second home owners. The locals don't get a look in.

Believe it or not buyers aren't always upfront either that they intend to use it as a second home. Our landlord (we are tenant farmers) sold a property about 10 years ago to a family who had intimated they were relocating to the area. Our landlord chose them over other buyers because they wanted it to be used as a family home.

It was nonsense - the kids were in private schools elsewhere and the family only use the (beautiful four bedroom farmhouse) during holidays. It sits empty the rest of the time.

Original poster

CornishTickler · 12/04/2025 12:10

Swiftie1878 · 12/04/2025 12:06

I disagree with this.
Locals can’t all be up in arms about second home ownership, but then be perfectly happy to accept the much higher house prices outsiders are prepared to (and can afford to) pay for homes they wish to sell.
If locals don’t want second home owners in their towns and villages, they should forego the benefits of selling to them I.e. higher purchase prices.

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Local people are not one homogeneous group.

There will be some that are greedy and some that are on the bones of their arse due to the dire situation.

So yes, locals have a right to be up in arms because we all have a point of view.

The majority want the situation to be addressed and thankfully it is being addressed.

OP posts:

Hwi · 12/04/2025 12:07

Justmeandtwokids · 12/04/2025 11:57

Some people seem to be unintentionally caught. I have a relative who separated and moved elsewhere, whilst retaining their half share of the marital home. The other owner has died. This is treated as a second home, with no exemption as one owner is still living. It will be sold but we don't have probate yet so can't sell and have no access to funds to pay the council tax at the normal rate, never mind double.

You are fully exempted until you get probate sorted out? Surely?

Delphiniumandlupins · 12/04/2025 12:07

Ddakji · 12/04/2025 11:33

You think people who rent privately owned holiday cottages don’t do touristy things, by gifts, spend money locally?

I’ve obviously been doing my holidays wrong all these years.

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I said "particularly if your own second home".

polkaloca · 12/04/2025 12:06

Council tax is meant to pay for local services, and 2nd home owners are using less services

perhaps they are are leading to increased housing benefit cost to the council though?

Swiftie1878 · 12/04/2025 12:06

CornishTickler · 12/04/2025 12:00

Let me just be clear on this point as its brought up a lot.

If its a Local selling the property as a second home or a non resident selling it, both are equally part of the problem. So this argument is irrelevant and doesn't actually look at solving the problem just shifting blame.

It doesn't matter who sells or who buys, we need to increase revenue from persistently vacant properties for the community. This will help towards significant problems of homelessness and deprivation that are impacting the community. These are very real and urgent problems we are facing.

I disagree with this.
Locals can’t all be up in arms about second home ownership, but then be perfectly happy to accept the much higher house prices outsiders are prepared to (and can afford to) pay for homes they wish to sell.
If locals don’t want second home owners in their towns and villages, they should forego the benefits of selling to them I.e. higher purchase prices.

thepariscrimefiles · 12/04/2025 12:05

AmHat1 · 12/04/2025 11:39

It is not always as straightforward as you may think. I have a home in a coastal village, we bought with a view to retiring there as we have always loved the place. We are there a lot of the time as our adult children are. We all eat out every night and are in the pubs every night.
A lot of the locals moan that there aren't enough rentals in the village. However there is at least a dozen 2 and 3 bedroom homes for sale and at very low prices. The problem is they don't want to buy, they only want to rent. The thing is nobody wants to be a landlord anymore, due to rising costs and red tape. It is no longer something that is an attractive proposition. A lot of the people in this place are a bit arty and so don't have very much money, certainly not enough to buy. Many people would envy anyone who wanted to just pursue their art and admire the amazing views all day. Would certainly beat a stressful job in the city, but you can't always have your cake and eat it.

Surely, most people would prefer to buy if they could afford it. It is very rare that people don't profit from owning a home, wheras rent is just dead money. It is more likely that even at what you think are low prices, many of the locals won't be able to afford to save for a deposit and get an affordable mortgage.

CrazyCatMam · 12/04/2025 12:05

In Scotland, or in our authority anyway, second homes have been paying double for a while now. It’s made a huge difference to our village.

Most of the cottages round the harbour were second homes. Like previous posters have said, a lot of them were sat empty for most of the year. I’m guessing some were inherited, or bought on a whim - house prices are relatively low here. A lot of the cottages were in a state of disrepair.

When the increase came in, lots of them were sold off and have since been renovated. They’re now occupied for most of the year - either as holiday cottages or homes. The whole harbour area has been regenerated.

The increase in council tax gave a lot of people the kick up the bum they needed to sell them off.

WitcheryDivine · 12/04/2025 12:04

JudgeJ · 12/04/2025 12:02

I agree but I who sold them their second home in the first place? It seems that a lot of local people are keen to sell their properties to second home owners, maybe there should also be penalties for them too.

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If they changed the rules as some have suggested eg have to apply for chance of use to the council then that would be a restriction on locals selling up too and would be fair. Are you in favour of that?

WitcheryDivine · 12/04/2025 12:03

Well usually they also want to buy in the local area, most house sales are not because all the inhabitants have died. And even when people have died, say I inherited my parents’ house in a holiday area that would be my only chance to get on the housing ladder there myself.

JudgeJ · 12/04/2025 12:02

Gettingbysomehow · 12/04/2025 10:13

Well diddums. They have destroyed whole communities.

I agree but I who sold them their second home in the first place? It seems that a lot of local people are keen to sell their properties to second home owners, maybe there should also be penalties for them too.