The government has released more details of the powers being given to local authorities to levy additional taxes on second homes.
The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has released an outline of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, mentioned in last week’s Queen Speech.
It is a wide ranging measure including substantial planning overhauls, possible street votes on individual planning applications, a new infrastructure levy imposed on developments, plus compulsory auctions of empty shops and some so-called ‘community land’.
There is also an indication of the government’s ever-hardening approach towards second homes.
The outline says: “The Bill recognises the impact that high levels of second home ownership can have in some areas and will introduce a new discretionary council tax premium on second homes of up to 100 per cent.
“It will also allow councils to apply a council tax premium of up to 100 per cent on homes which have been empty for longer than one year (rather than two years as currently).
“This will encourage more empty homes into productive use, while enabling councils to raise and retain additional revenue to support local services and keep council tax down for local residents.”
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