Thousands of UK households face quadruple council tax bills from April | Personal Finance | Finance
Some households in the UK will see their council tax bill quadruple from April. It is estimated that around 5,000 homes will be impacted under the new charging system.
Authorities in Scotland are clamping down on second-home owners. The new rules will see households in Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands face a 300% premium on their standard council tax payments, which will see their annual bills quadruple. The new charges will be some of the highest on second homes anywhere in the UK.
As reported by GB News, local leaders hope the move will discourage second-home owners using their properties as holiday homes. Instead, it is hoped they will make the housing available for permanent residents.
In the Highlands, council tax bills are expected to hit £6,536 per year from April. Highland Council has also warned that the premium could rise to 350% in 2027 before hitting 400% the following the year.
There are reportedly more second homes and long-term empty properties in the Highlands than in any other authority across the whole of Scotland. Leaders hope the measures will increase the availability of houses.
Ariane Burgess, who represents the Highlands and Islands region in the Scottish Parliament, said: “I’m glad that councillors are using new powers to take action against the huge numbers of second and holiday homes and to support local people who want an affordable place to live by putting more homes in circulation.”
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Jane Meagher, leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, added: “The higher premium for second homes aims to increase housing availability by encouraging owners to bring properties back into active use as permanent homes and increase Edinburgh’s available housing stock.”
It follows the Scottish Government introduction of new legislation that allows local authorities to set their own council tax levels for second properties. In England, councils are only allowed to enforce a maximum premium of 100% on second homes.
Joanna Marchong, policy analyst at the Adam Smith Institute, said: “This is a classic example of how absurd these second home premiums have become. Quadrupling council tax on second homes is less about housing policy and more about town halls hunting for new ways to squeeze taxpayers.”
