MP urged to help push through double council tax on second homes

Councillor Simon Myers (Con, Mid Craven) told Mr Smith North Yorkshire Council needed the Government’s help in getting the ‘tools’ to make housing more affordable for it’s residents.

Speaking at the first meeting of the council’s Skipton and Ripon Constituency Area Committee, held at Skipton Town Hall, Cllr Myers, who is a member of the council’s executive, urged Mr Smith to do what he could to get the Localism Bill through Parliament.

There were two aspects of interest to the council, and particularly for those in the national parks, he said – the doubling of council tax on second homes and proposed changes to planning involving change of use to holiday lets.

“The ability to double council tax on second homes – North Yorkshire Council took a virtually unanimous decision to enact that policy last year and we are still waiting for the Government to enact it. I think it takes nine to 12 months after it has been enacted to start collecting (the council tax). That is an important tool in making housing affordable for our residents,” he said.

The second was allowing local planning authorities to have control over the development of second homes and Airbnbs out of existing properties.

“In effect, the local planning authorities will be able to control the development of second homes and Airbnbs out of existing residential properties. That is a very important tool and and urgent. There has been a massive rise in Airbnbs and holiday lets since the start of the pandemic; we really need the tools to tackle these problems for our residents,” he said.

In response, Mr Smith said the council had his full support in its efforts to provide more homes.

“We have an area of outstanding beauty, the park and beyond, but we do need to build homes. You have my full support in moving this forward,” he said.

Mr Smith added he hoped the new council would be able to showcase what it can do in a rural area.

In September last year, the then North Yorkshire County Council agreed to charge a 100 per cent council tax premium on second homes and on premises that had been left empty for more than a year. It had been hoped to start the new charge from April, 2024.

It followed a recommendation from the Rural Commission that a charge was levied on second homes and used to finance affordable housing, helping to reverse the ongoing exodus of young families from areas where house prices are many times above average wages.