Plans welcomed to double council tax for second homes
First Minister Humza Yousaf’s plans that second home owners could face being charged more than double council tax have been welcomed in Oban, writes Kathie Griffiths.
The proposal, part of a new Scottish Government and Cosla consultation to help increase available housing, was brought up at Oban Community Council last week.
Argyll and Bute Council says it is waiting to see the outcome and currently does not have a policy on this proposal.
Oban South and the Isles Councillor Willie Hume said he was delighted at the plans that were announced by the First Minister at the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC).
The proposed changes would give councils the power to charge up to double the full rate of council tax on second homes from April 2024, bringing them into line with long-term empty homes from next year.
Councillor Hume told the community council meeting: “It’s not an easy fix, but I know a lot of people who run businesses have advertised for staff, who are quite happy to work for them and then there hasn’t been anywhere for them to stay.”
A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council said: “The Scottish Government will hold a consultation on a proposal to allow councils to charge up to double council tax on second homes from April 1, 2024. At this stage, we do not have a policy around this proposal and will wait to see the outcome of the consultation.” The consultation ends in July.
The Scottish Government and Cosla consultation also seeks views on further powers to charge more than double rate on both empty and second homes in future years.
And it asks for views on changes to the definition of when a property offering self-catered accommodation becomes liable for non-domestic rates.
There are currently 4,214 empty and second homes in Argyll and Bute while in January 2023, there were 42,865 long-term empty houses in Scotland.