Another 38 councils in England will bring in the 100 per cent surcharge on holiday homes that are not rented out, it has been warned.
38 councils in England bringing in double council tax from April – full list
12,000 second homes face double council tax from April. Another 38 councils in England will bring in the 100 per cent surcharge on holiday homes that are not rented out, it has been warned.
Up to 12,300 second-home owners will see their council tax bills doubled next year. Analysis by The Times has found that 38 English councils will start charging 100 per cent premiums on second homes that are not rented out or used as holiday lets from April while others will introduce it in 2027.
The power to levy extra tax was granted in April last year and 211 councils — about 71 per cent of the total in England — brought in the charges straight away.
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Aneisha Beveridge from Hamptons said: “We’re entering a second wave of charges as councils look for fresh ways to boost their budgets. The big second-home destinations were quick to introduce the surcharge, but now others are set to follow.”
From April 2025, councils will be able to use new powers to charge a premium of up to 100% additional council tax on second homes in their area, or parts of their area.
For the purpose of council tax, second homes are dwellings which are substantially furnished but have no resident, Labour Party government legislation has advised.
The powers to charge the empty homes or second homes premium (or both) is discretionary, and it is for councils to decide whether to charge the premiums in their local area and at what rate, up to the statutory maximum.
Elliot Keck from the TaxPayers’ Alliance, which campaigns for lower taxes, said: “For thousands of households across the country, the new year threatens a crippling tax raid on their properties.
“As well as yet another year of inflation-busting council tax rises, many will also face their bills being doubled as local authorities levy punitive charges on anyone who dares to be affluent.
“There is no justification for this, given that second-home owners will make much less use of council services.”
Second home surcharge
Wiltshire
Cherwell
Hillingdon
South Norfolk
Rotherham
North Northamptonshire
Gateshead
Breckland
Charnwood
Winchester
Broxtowe
Epping Forest
South Cambridgeshire
Huntingdonshire
North Somerset
Waverley
East Cambridgeshire
Basingstoke and Deane
Basildon
Central Bedfordshire
South Staffordshire
Harborough
North West Leicestershire
Newark and Sherwood
Barking and Dagenham
Tandridge
Erewash
Nuneaton and Bedworth
Blaby
Test Valley
Spelthorne
Swindon
Luton
Rushmoor
Watford
Castle Point
Hyndburn