Most councils in Wales have now introduced higher council tax rates for owners of empty or second homes. It comes after years of complaints that increased empty and second homes are forcing young people out of their home areas and leading to over-tourism.
Last week Monmouthshire County Council became the latest local authority to clamp down on second homes. At a full council meeting on March 9 councillors voted to introduce a 100% council tax premium for properties left empty for one year, rising to 300% for homes left vacant for three years or more.
The changes mirror similar changes already introduced in other areas with high levels of second homes including in Cardiff, Bridgend Conwy, Gwynedd in Merthyr Tydfil. Last year Welsh Government announced changes to planning, taxation and plans for a new licensing scheme for holiday lets in Wales in response to rising concerns over the issue. Only four councils out of 22 in Wales - Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Newport and Torfaen - don't have any premiums for second or empty homes.
Read more: 'It's too late' How the second homes crisis is affecting Welsh-language communities on Anglesey
Here are all the areas in Wales where people are now being charged more council tax for long-empty and second homes. For a daily briefing on the big issues in Wales, sign up to our Wales Matters newsletter here.
Bridgend
Bridgend County Borough Council announced plans for a 100% council tax increase on empty properties earlier this year. The decision comes following the results of a public consultation that took place in November 2022. A council tax premium on second homes is set to begin on April 1, 2024, subject to a further report being brought back to council ahead of a final decision next year.
Carmarthenshire
Earlier this year a majority of councillors at Carmarthenshire Council approved a 50% premium on second homes and a 50% premium on properties which had been empty for one to two years, although there are exemptions. The premium rises to 100% - or a doubling of council tax - for properties vacant for two to five years, and 200% for those empty more than five years. You can find out more here.
Cardiff
Announced last week, Cardiff Council voted to increase the council tax premium on long term empty homes from 50% to 100%. A new 100% premium charge will be applied to second homes and furnished properties which are not anyone's main home. Speaking at a council meeting on Thursday, March 9, Cllr Calum Davies agreed that action was needed on empty homes when owners are not co-operative, but added that the premium fails to recognise the context behind each case.
He said: "There will be many out there who are financially unable. Some properties will be bound up in probate. Others will be on the market, an action that is encouraging empty homes if the owner does not or cannot do anything for it, but the sale is fallen through." You can read more here.
Ceredigion
Currently, Ceredigion Council only raises 25% more council tax on second homes, which is less than the 100% permitted by law in Wales since 2015.
Conwy
Conwy County Council have gone ahead with plans to introduce a council tax premium for second home owners in the county. The final decision was made at a meeting on Thursday, December 8 and increases the tax to 50% from April 2023 and double it once again to 100% from April 2024. Currently, the council tax premium in the county stands at 25%. You can read more here.
According to Conwy County Council, the premium is designed to encourage owners to bring empty properties into use and support the increase of affordable housing for purchase or let in local communities.
Denbighshire
Denbighshire Council charges a 50% council tax premium for properties that have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for 12 months or more and for second homes.
Flintshire
In December it was confirmed by Flintshire Council that second home owners in the county will pay double the amount of council tax (100%), and owners of properties left empty for a long period without a good reason will also pay an extra 75% in tax.
Members of the ruling Labour group on the council said this increase could raise £400,000 in the next financial year, which can be used to keep down the council tax paid by ordinary residents and avoid cuts to frontline services. It will come into effect from April and you can read more here.
Gwynedd
Also announced in December, councillors in Gwynedd have voted to increase premiums for second homes to 150% from April - it had previously been 100% - and empty homes premiums to rise to 100%. A heated meeting in Caernarfon that month heard from homeowners dismayed at the decision while others said it was needed to tackle huge waiting lists and empty properties in the area. You can read more here.
Isle of Anglesey
Announced at a full council meeting earlier this month, the level of council tax premium for second homes on the Isle of Anglesey will increase from 35% to 75% and the level of council tax premium for empty homes will remain at 100%.
Merthyr Tydfil
After a consultation, a full meeting of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council on Wednesday, March 8, agreed to charge a 100% council tax premium on long-term empty properties, that have been empty for more than 12 months, with effect from April 1, 2023.
They also approved introducing a 100% premium on second homes which a report called “periodically occupied properties” from April 1, 2024. You can read more here.
Monmouthshire
Last week Monmouthshire County Council approved a council tax premium for long term empty properties on a sliding scale from 100% to 300% effective from April 1, 2024 with a 100% premium applying to properties empty for one year, a 200% premium to properties empty for two years and a 300% premium to properties empty for three years or more.
There will be a council tax premium for second homes of 100% from April 1, 2024, although there will be further consideration to the impact on the local economy before the council uses that power.
Neath Port Talbot
Second homes in Neath Port Talbot Council are charged council tax at 100%.
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire County Council, which according to the BBC has over 3,000 second homes - the most in Wales - currently charges a 100% council tax premium on those homes.
Powys
From April 2023, second and holiday homeowners in Powys will have to pay a council tax premium of 75% after councillors unanimously passed the measure in February.
Rhondda Cynon Taf
With effect from April 1, 2023, Rhondda Cynon Taf long term empty properties owners will be subject to a 50% council tax premium if your property has been empty for between one and two years and a 100% premium if it has been empty longer than two years. From April 1, 2024 all second homes will be subject to a 100% council tax premium.
Swansea
Long-term empty properties and second homes in Swansea are subject to a 100% council tax premium. There are some exemptions including dwellings being marketed for sale or let, occupied caravan pitches and boat moorings and seasonal homes where year-round occupation is prohibited.
Vale of Glamorgan
In March the Vale of Glamorgan Council voted to approve a 100% council tax premium for long-term empty properties to be levied in 2023/24. This will increase to a 150% premium in 2024/25 and a 200% premium in 2025/26. Councillors also voted to approve a 100% council tax premium for second homes which will be levied in 2024/25.
Vale of Glamorgan Council ward member for Sully, Councillor Kevin Mahoney, said that whilst he understood a need to crack down on empty properties that "blight streets", he felt there was a "degree of infringement of civil liberties" in relation to the proposal. You can read more here.
Wrexham
Wrexham Council charges an additional 50% premium on long-term empty properties and properties classed as second homes, to bring empty homes back into use and increase the supply of affordable housing.
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