A plan to increase council tax on second homes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park is being proposed to help attract and retain families to live and work in the area.
Civic leaders from the Dales are joining forces to look at seeking approval for a five-year pilot, which would see a significant local increase in council tax on second homes introduced.
Currently there are about 1,500 second homes in the park, representing more than ten per cent of the total housing stock.
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Last night, Craven District Council leader Richard Foster told a meeting of full council that community sustainability had become a pressing concern– and that one of the key ways to tackle it was by addressing the impact of second homes.
He said he was working with Richmondshire District Council’s leader and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority chairman to develop the idea for wider debate.
Cllr Foster – who is also a member of the national park authority – said a detailed proposal would be brought to a meeting of the authority on December 19.
If approved, a proposal would then go to the national park’s constituent local authorities for them to consider.
“All across the north of England we have seen a flight of young people from the more remote rural areas like the Dales – and only a trickle of young people and families have come in to replace them.
“As local authorities we have a duty to our communities and to this special place to try to address the causes before it is too late.
“Action in four key areas – economic development and job creation, broadband infrastructure, the retention of vital local services, and housing – is needed.
“On housing, local authorities in the Dales are putting an immense amount of work into trying to get new, affordable homes built.
“But so many homes are being lost to second home ownership that the positive effects of the new homes are being cancelled out.
“I think we’ve come to the point where we would not be doing our duty if we didn’t take a serious look at second homes. Do we really want to be known as the generation that sat on our hands while our communities fell apart?”
Mr Foster said second homes were typically unoccupied for much of the year.
“That results in a substantial economic loss to the local community and – perhaps even more important – a loss of vitality.
“It doesn’t seem unreasonable to suggest that second home owners should be asked to help make good these losses.
“Higher council tax charges on second homes could be the answer. Any additional money raised through this pilot could be ploughed back into community services.”
Richmondshire District Council Leader, Councillor Yvonne Peacock, who is also a member of the national park authority, said she wanted Dales communities to keep going and to thrive,
She added: “That’s why I want to see action on the really big issues such as economic development and housing.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that one of the ways we can help local communities is by prioritising their needs over the needs of second homeowners.
“Young people have left the upper Dales in high numbers and one of the reasons why so many have left in recent years – and why so few families are attracted here at the moment- is that good, affordable housing is out of their reach. A large council tax increase on second homes could change that.
“Incentivising the sale or renting out of second homes could bring more homes back into full-time occupancy. For a twentysomething who returns from work each evening to a bedroom in their parents’ house, passing several empty houses on the way must seem very wrong.”
The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Chairman, Carl Lis, added: “The Authority cannot achieve its two statutory purposes of conserving the landscape and promoting its enjoyment by the nation without strong, viable communities.
“There is no doubt that we need to retain more of our young people, and attract others from outside the park, but at the moment we’ve little chance of doing either because there is not enough available or affordable housing. The situation cannot be attributed to the high number of second homes alone – but it is certainly a factor.
“By stimulating the housing market, second homes have helped to create a gaping affordability gap between house prices and local wages. The knock-on effects are a ‘flight’ of working age people, school closures, loss of services and hollowed out communities.”
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This is brilliant Idea. I was told by my M.P.that they have a discount because they do not use the schools, the increase could be spent on the education of local children.
But how about taxing the holiday homes more and IF they are paying business rates that money should directly be paid to local councils.
In the village I live in in the last three years 17 family homes have gone to Holiday lets or second homes . If the new owners want to deprive locals then they should be willing to pay a 50% increase should about cover it .
Your MP is incorrect, second home owners do not benefit from any reduction in council tax “because they don’t use the schools” or indeed any other form of discount. Grossly miss informed.
Don’t forget the deliberately left empty. We have one in West Witton that has been empty to my knowledge for 9 years. It is a terrace and derelict inside and has been allowed to decay despite being perfect as a starter home. Refurbishing now may cost more than the property would be worth post restoration
You cannot just target one particular area, their are lots of areas that have this problem, this could have other knock on effects such as bringing the prices of properties down even? Why tax at the beginning when you have to pay capital gains tax when you sell it, this could open a can of worms, why would people want to buy a second home here at all, Surely they will abandon the Dales and maybe buy in Cumbria instead. I do hope this is thought through properly, which in effect could have an impact on tourism.
Second home owners often register one of the occupants (the husband, wife or partner) on the electoral register and then claim single occupancy discount on their council tax. This scheme will therefore have no effect on those tax dodgers. It also has a detrimental effect on the democratic process and helps the same tax dodgers avoid capital gains tax when they sell up. What the local authority (Richmondshire District Council) should do is ask parish clerks to provide details of second home owners and investigate if they are involved in this scam so that you can bring the offenders before the courts and stop the practice. It wouldn’t be difficult.
We intend to move to the Dales next year (from Ipswich) to live and start a business. We regularly visit this stunning area. It makes sense to me to preserve communities by taxing second homes more. In the South there is no desire to preserve communities at all.
What about the property owners who have been encouraged to convert properties by the authorities for tourism under diversification after being refused planning for permanent homes for family members ? Why should they then be penalised when they tried to create local housing but were and still are being refused . This is still happening where there are many redundant and delapidated buildings which would be perfect and cheap for local people to convert and own but
current planning restrictions prevent it in favour of tourism. There has to be a sensible balance found , We need tourism but we also need to allow our young people to own their own homes wherever possible. Also, I struggle to see why residents in the National Parks should be penalised by converting buildings generating additional family homes or even business income in an area where incomes are extremely low – would this discrimination against Dales families who have lived in the area for generations be allowed if challenged in a court of human rights. Other cultures eg Travellers are looked upon favourably because of fears of being accused of discrimination. What is the difference ??