Conwy county council have decided to go ahead with plans to introduce a massively higher council tax premium for second home owners in the county. The final decision was made at a meeting last Thursday, December 8.
The council's cabinet has decided to pursue its plans to increase the tax to 50% in 2023 and then double it once again to 100% in 2024. Currently, the council tax premium in the county stands at 25%.
It comes after Gwynedd Council have also decided to make changes to their council tax premium by increasing it to 150% by April of next year. Meanwhile, Bridgend county is also looking at a premium of 100% from April, with a proposal that this be increased to 200% in two years time. Swansea and Pembrokeshire councils have already increased their council tax premiums to 100%.
Read more: Former staff say they were left in tears working for Welsh Tory MS Janet Finch Saunders'
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. At the meeting last week, it was decided to charge a 50% council tax premium for both second homes and long term empty homes from April 2023.
The meeting also agreed an indicative level of 100% premium on both long term empty homes and second homes from April 1, 2024, but would be subject to review during 2023/2024. A public consultation took place during the summer when the council invited second and long term empty property owners, as well as those who didn't own such properties, to give their opinions on what the premium should be.
People were also invited to give their opinion on what effect the premium had on the tourism industry, the Welsh language and affordable housing in the county. According to the council, over 800 responses were received during the consultation.
In a statment published on Tuesday, December 13, Councillor Mike Priestley the Cabinet Member for Finance, Revenue and Benefits said: "Councillors have taken time to consider this difficult subject in the context of the impact of the decision could have. It’s also important to note that the funding from the premium continues to be used to support the Council’s Housing budget, which is facing increasing pressures."
READ NEXT:
- 'We need answers now': The second homes crisis in the part of Wales worst hit
- The Welsh villages where an influx of second homeowners are steadily forcing locals out
- 'I thought it was dying but it's thriving' TV show charts English couple's discovery of Welsh language
- 'It's too late' How the second homes crisis is affecting Welsh-language communities on Anglesey
- Huge rise in people listing second homes on Airbnb in Wales
