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Original poster

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

456 replies

CornishTickler · 12/04/2025 09:58

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.

OP posts:
TennesseeStella · 12/04/2025 10:47

I actually wish second homes could be more heavily taxed, or even banned in certain areas. Paying more council tax is nothing to those rich enough to own multiple houses.

crackofdoom · 12/04/2025 10:49

Bubblesgun · 12/04/2025 10:41

Ok I hear you.

but then you go back to having more development in areas that dont necessarily have more space to allow for developments as sensitive as they may be for the wildlife.

i love camping but I would NEVER camp in the UK where weather can be so rubbish even in the pic of summer! Not even for all the money in the world 🤣.

i think it s a difficult conversation in which all parties should reasonable and ready to compromise.

locals NEED the money tourism brings, and more council taxes is a good way to raise extra money but locals need to be honest about what tourism bring them. Take some islands in France, locals understands that from June-September with pics in mid July to mid August, is what keep their businesses afloat for the rest of the year.

on the other side, second home owners MUST accept that yes they need to pay more taxes, and need to contribute to the local communities.

look at the netberland. The daughter of one of my client lives there. She had to apply to the government for the right to buy a place which she could only do after living in the country for x number pf years (cant remember), then once she was approved, she will be allowed to sell or rent it AFTER having loved there for 3 years.

i think something like that ie. Number of days living in the local community should be the rule.

do you think that could a conversation to be had?

Show quote history

Well, you don't have more development- just different development. Hotels, guesthouses etc are more efficient in terms of space. Better than plastering the landscape with new housing developments that aren't even providing homes for people.

I also think we have to make a distinction between AirBnB when used to rent out a spare room or a family home when the occupants are away, or a shepherd's hut on a farm, and AirBnB when used to rent out an entire home bought for that very purpose. No problem with the former, massive problems with the latter.

ThisProudBluePombear · 12/04/2025 10:50

All that will happen is that this increase will be passed onto the tenants, not the landlords.

FOJN · 12/04/2025 10:50

Bubblesgun · 12/04/2025 10:28

I dont understand something. Disclaimer I do not own a second home but if I could i would (not jn the UK though).

so OP said holiday makers brings money.
not second home owners.

how does that work?

if i go on week end breaks I stay in hotels.
if I go on holidays i prefer self catering, villas, etc.

how can you both have holiday makers but no owners to rent their home to holiday makers?

if I ever owned a second home in my country, i would use it in the summer and rent it when I m not there.

You're assuming second home owners rent their houses out when they are not using them. Often they don't, it's their holiday home which they use for a few weeks a year and leave it standing empty the rest of the time.

DelphineFox · 12/04/2025 10:50

Seems a good idea

Original poster
CornishTickler · 12/04/2025 10:52

ThisProudBluePombear · 12/04/2025 10:50

All that will happen is that this increase will be passed onto the tenants, not the landlords.

Not true.

If you rent the property out long term the tenant pays the council tax at the normal rate.

OP posts:
ThisProudBluePombear · 12/04/2025 10:52

CornishTickler · 12/04/2025 10:52

Not true.

If you rent the property out long term the tenant pays the council tax at the normal rate.

Show quote history

oh. Phew!

crackofdoom · 12/04/2025 10:53

Also, the Cornish economy doesn't depend on tourism, and it pisses us off no end when people say that. 18% of the economy is based on tourism- significant but not overwhelming. Tourism also exerts a massive toll on our infrastructure, as well as pushing the cost of housing up. And the jobs it provides are usually seasonal and badly paid.

Bubblesgun · 12/04/2025 10:54

TennesseeStella · 12/04/2025 10:47

I actually wish second homes could be more heavily taxed, or even banned in certain areas. Paying more council tax is nothing to those rich enough to own multiple houses.

Not true. it is something for a lot of second home owners.

you have to factor that yes there are some rich people who buys properties and even though they are pissed off at paying more, it s less than a percent of their total budget.

BUT among the second home owners community they are a lot of them who would feel their budget really dented. Yes they can sell or rent it more thats a the luxury they have: choice.

but some second home owners are keeping their grand parents house (my extended family in france. We share the cost), or bought because that area has memories for them, r inherited a property, or moved out of the area and kept their home there (we did and it a now sold and it was in london),
or accidental ones, etc.

of course there are some investors too. I think a reasonable conversation should take place where both parties listen to each other to find a good compromise

Cynic17 · 12/04/2025 10:54

So the second home owners disappear and then what? Lots of empty houses and huge problems for local businesses!
I am not lucky enough to own a second home, but this "politics of envy" is horrible, and economically stupid.

polkaloca · 12/04/2025 10:55

I'm not sure it will work. Apparently if you put the home on the market you don't have to pay even if you have no desire to sell.

Lindolander · 12/04/2025 10:57

Someone I know has just made a big performance out of selling their second home due to spiralling costs. I have no sympathy as a few years ago, the village was hit by floods and all they cared about was that their cottage was OK and the bridge was still intact for them to get to the pub.
I know everyone isn't like that and I do really sympathise with permanent residents about the effect second homes have on their communities.

polkaloca · 12/04/2025 10:57

So the second home owners disappear and then what? Lots of empty houses and huge problems for local businesses!

Would it disappear or would it still exist with someone living in it full time?

Original poster
CornishTickler · 12/04/2025 10:58

Cynic17 · 12/04/2025 10:54

So the second home owners disappear and then what? Lots of empty houses and huge problems for local businesses!
I am not lucky enough to own a second home, but this "politics of envy" is horrible, and economically stupid.

Not at all the politics of envy.

It's the politics of stopping people contributing to the economic destruction of communities and hoarding houses when we have a homeless crisis to tackle.

It very myopic to dress it up as envy. Reading the room would be a better start.

OP posts:
PluckyBamboo · 12/04/2025 10:58

I live in a rural area around an hour drive from a main city and near the local hospital. We have loads of second home owners round here that contribute nothing to the local economy as they are pretty much using the property as a place to sleep then heading back home for the weekend. Annoyingly most of these properties are ex council houses that would make perfect family homes.

FOJN · 12/04/2025 10:59

Cynic17 · 12/04/2025 10:54

So the second home owners disappear and then what? Lots of empty houses and huge problems for local businesses!
I am not lucky enough to own a second home, but this "politics of envy" is horrible, and economically stupid.

Why do you assume its "politics of envy"?

Do you life in an area with high rates of second home ownership?

ClaudiusTheGod · 12/04/2025 10:59

Cynic17 · 12/04/2025 10:54

So the second home owners disappear and then what? Lots of empty houses and huge problems for local businesses!
I am not lucky enough to own a second home, but this "politics of envy" is horrible, and economically stupid.

Then the empty houses can be bought as ‘first’ homes (ie actual permanent residences) by people who have previously been priced out of the area… do use your brain cells…

ilovesooty · 12/04/2025 11:01

polkaloca · 12/04/2025 10:59

That loophole should be closed immediately.

polkaloca · 12/04/2025 11:02

one of my colleagues was talking about it, they are going to do it.

CaptainMyCaptain · 12/04/2025 11:02

ThisProudBluePombear · 12/04/2025 10:50

All that will happen is that this increase will be passed onto the tenants, not the landlords.

But the money will go into the local community which is the point whoever pays it. If it becomes too expensive to rent a holiday home then holidays makers will go elsewhere and the landlords might then sell to locals.

If it was a long term let it would be someone's home and they would pay normal council tax.

cakeandteaandcake · 12/04/2025 11:02

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.

Sorry, you lost the right to complain at “decided to buy a holiday home”.

sHREDDIES19 · 12/04/2025 11:03

I agree with this and we have a couple of holiday properties in U.K. This is our way to fund our future retirement. We do use them ourselves but try to ensure they are rented out as much as possible. I don’t understand people who only keep them for themselves it’s not good for the local economy. I guess those that can afford will carry on in this manner but I do think it will force many to either sell or open up their properties to holiday makers.

CautiousLurker01 · 12/04/2025 11:04

Cognacsoft · 12/04/2025 10:29

Genuine question, how do the Beckhams etc get round this?
Because no way do wealthy people pay double council tax.

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.

Original poster
CornishTickler · 12/04/2025 11:04

polkaloca · 12/04/2025 10:59

Suspect this loop hole will be closed soon. The MPs here are working on closing the switching to business rates loop hole right now.

Won't last long. Or they'll cap the time you can claim this for.

OP posts: