Second homes 100% tax plan ‘not perfect’
North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) has approved the introduction of a 100 percent council tax on second homes.
At a meeting of the authority on Wednesday, November 16, a plan for the introduction of a 100 percent council tax premium on second homes was approved in an effort to tackle the affordable homes crisis affecting the county.
There are more than 8,000-secondhomesinNorth Yorkshire, many of which are locatedonthecoast,including in Scarborough.
However, there has been some disagreement locally over whether the second homes tax plan is the most effective way of dealing with the lack of affordable homes.
Phil Trumper, a Conservative councillor representing Whitby West on North Yorkshire County Council and the Esk Valley ward on Scarborough Council, said that though the plan was “not perfect”, it was “a step in the right direction”.
He said: “The Government needs to start looking at the legislation regarding the need for planning permission for changing use from a residential [property] to a holiday let.”
Speaking at the NYCC meeting, Cllr Janet Jefferson, anIndependentcouncilloron thecountyandboroughcouncils, also raised the issue of holiday lets, stating that peopleinherwardhadbeenevicted so the properties could be converted.
She said: “I have houses within my division, not necessarily
really near the sea but central, being turned every day into holiday homes or AirBnBs. And we don’t need planning in our area, they can dothat.Ithinkwehaveamore serious situation with the incoming AirBnBs and holiday homes.”
Estimates predict that the Scarborough district could bring in almost half of the estimated annual second homes tax revenue of £14m, with plans for that to be reinvested into building more affordable homes.
The Scarborough and Whitby Constituency Labour Party (CLP) said that while the issue of housing scarcity should be “urgently addressed”, whether the plan “will make some or any positive impact on the core problem remains to be seen”.
A spokesperson for the CLP added: “In reality, there are other things that need to happen to rebalance the housing situation here on the coast. Local Labour policy is to ensure more home building, and SBC’s cabinet agreed to a joint venture with Lovell whichwillbuildmoreaffordable homes to a high standard.”
Moira Cunningham, Scarborough and Whitby Labour chair, said: “Time will tell whether this measure alone will achieve any significant results.
"Whatremainsclearisthat more decent quality, truly affordable housing is desperately needed in our area. A Labour government will prioritise making that happen.”
Asked whether the second homes tax policy, introduced byaConservative-ledcouncil, mightbeseenas“un-Conservative” by some, Cllr Trumper said: “I think a house, and getting people on the ladder is really important, and young people are finding it really difficultinplaceslikeWhitby.So IwouldsayitisaveryConservative policy.”
The second homes council tax premium is set to be brought into effect from April 2024 if Royal Assent is given to the legislation that will give local authorities additional powers.