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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Alex Ross

‘Unjustified money grab’: Why my £500k beach hut shouldn’t be slapped with extra £750-a-year second home tax

Stephen Bath bought his shed for £3,000 in 1982, before spending £8,500 on a rebuild. Today, he thinks it's worth around £500,000. He says applying a full second home council tax is unfair - (Alex Ross/The Independent)

“Hold on tight”, warns Stephen Bath as he slowly notches up the throttle on his blue and white speedboat to send us gliding across the calm waters of Christchurch Harbour.

It’s a cold, misty January morning, but quickly into view comes the postcard image of dozens of colourful wooden beach huts perched on the beachy headland.

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