Impact of Second Home Restrictions on Rural Communities in Northumberland
📰 Original title: This coastal idyll banned 'harmful' holiday lets. Eight years on, has it worked?
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View full AI summary: https://killbait.com/en/impact-of-second-home-restrictions-on-rural-communities-in-northumberland/?redirpost=4ea6abf0-4412-4044-a680-8d784614a5c2
Impact of Second Home Restrictions on Rural Communities in Northumberland
📰 Original title: This coastal idyll banned 'harmful' holiday lets. Eight years on, has it worked?
🤖 IA: It's not clickbait ✅
👥 Usuarios: It's not clickbait ✅
View full AI summary: https://killbait.com/posts/post/4ea6abf0-4412-4044-a680-8d784614a5c2
Latest Housing Figures for Orkney & Scotland
Pembrokeshire councillors vote to cut second homes tax premium again
Councillors in Pembrokeshire have agreed to lower the controversial levy on second homes for the second year running, cutting the premium from 150% to 125% following a knife‑edge vote at a cabinet meeting this week.
Narrow vote after heated debate
The decision follows last year’s reduction from 200% to 150%, with councillors now opting for a further cut. An amendment from Cllr Mark Carter, backed by Cllr Di Clements, sought to remove the premium entirely and return the rate to 100%.
But Cllr Alistair Cameron, cabinet member for corporate finance efficiencies, warned that such a move would create a £2.8m budget pressure in 2026‑27, equivalent to a 3% rise in general council tax.
Council leader Cllr Jon Harvey added: “The reality is if this amendment is approved we’ve got to find another £2.8m – either cuts or we put the council tax up by that amount. I would rather be looking after the majority of council tax‑payers in Pembrokeshire rather than supporting this 100%.”
Cllr Mike Stoddart argued the opposite, saying: “Very simply I don’t agree we can chisel money out of these people (second home owners) so we don’t have to go to our people; we’re acting to our own electoral advantage. It’s totally unfair to pay double the council tax and using the services a lot less.”
When the 100% amendment was defeated by 29 votes to 21, Cllr Phil Kidney proposed a compromise of 125%. That motion passed by just one vote — 26 in favour, 25 against — leaving the council facing a £1.4m shortfall.
📊 At a glance: second homes revenue
£12.5m raised across Wales
Councils collected an extra £12.5m last year from second homes and empty property premiums.
Pembrokeshire among top earners
The county generated one of the highest totals, reflecting its concentration of holiday lets and second homes.
£1.4m shortfall ahead
Cutting the premium from 150% to 125% is expected to reduce Pembrokeshire’s income by around £1.4m.
Policy purpose
Premiums were introduced to raise revenue and ease housing pressures in tourist hotspots.
Impact on second home owners
Under current Welsh Government rules, second home owners must pay the premium unless they can prove their property is let for at least 182 days a year.
The Welsh Government is consulting on changes that could allow owners to average lettings over several years, or to count up to 14 days of free charity use towards the 182‑day threshold. The consultation runs until 20 November, with any new legislation due to take effect from 1 April.
High concentration of second homes
A council report shows 13.8% of homes in Pembrokeshire currently have no usual resident, down from a peak of 14.6%.
Four communities — Dale, Lamphey, Newport and The Havens — have rates above 40%, while a further 14 communities exceed 25%.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Council rakes in extra £12.5m from second homes and empties
New figures show how much extra council tax premiums have generated across Wales.
Pembrokeshire backs 200% council tax premium for second homes
Councillors previously voted to double the levy on second home owners in tourist hotspots.
Swansea holiday let occupancy up 47% amid policy concerns
Experts warn Welsh Government rules are squeezing supply and driving competition for rentals.
Critics say 182‑day rule causing ‘soul‑crushing’ distress
Campaigners highlight the impact of strict letting thresholds on small holiday businesses.
#CouncilTax #Dale #holidayHomes #Lamphey #Newport #Pembrokeshire #PembrokeshireCouncil #secondHomes #TheHavens #tourism
Hundreds of second home owners sidestep Pembrokeshire’s council tax premium
More than 800 second home owners in Pembrokeshire have avoided paying one of Britain’s highest council tax premiums — by using a legal exemption that allows them to list their property for sale or rent.
Figures published in a council consultation show that of the 4,328 second homes in the county, 3,503 — around 81% — were subject to the 150% premium in June. The remaining 19% were exempt, with many owners believed to be using a legal workaround that grants a 12-month reprieve if the property is publicly marketed.
The exemption, permitted under the Local Government Finance Act, does not require owners to sell or let the property — only to list it at a reasonable market price. Critics say this allows some owners to avoid thousands in council tax without any real intention of parting with their second home.
Carol Peett, a buying agent at West Wales Property Finders, said:
“There’s no question they are doing it. People are finding ways to get out of paying the tax. They are being forced into ways of avoiding it, as it’s crippling for the lower-end properties.”
Pembrokeshire’s premium was first introduced in 2017 at 50%, rising to 100% in 2022 and peaking at 200% in 2024. Councillors voted to reduce the rate to 150% in April this year, acknowledging concerns that the policy had gone too far.
Despite the reduction, Pembrokeshire still shares the highest second home premium in Britain with Gwynedd and Denbighshire. A Band D second home owner in the county now pays £4,130 annually — compared to the standard rate of £1,651. Those in the highest council tax band face bills approaching £10,000.
Cllr Aled Thomas, a Conservative member of Pembrokeshire Council, questioned whether the exemption was being abused:
“I don’t think people are using it to game the system. I think people are generally trying to sell their properties because they’re fed up of being treated like a martyr here in Pembrokeshire.”
The council confirmed that there are seven types of exemptions that account for the 19% figure, including the sale or rental listing clause. A spokesperson said:
“To receive this time-limited exception, the homeowners must provide evidence that the property is being marketed for sale. For example, they must provide a copy of the sale particulars and listing on a website at a reasonable price.”
Pembrokeshire Council raised £10.6 million in 2024–25 through the premium, though the money is not ring-fenced for housing and instead goes into the general fund. A public consultation is currently underway to determine rates for 2026–27.
#CouncilTax #homesForSale #Pembrokeshire #PembrokeshireCouncil #secondHomes #tax #taxAvoidance
'The second home council tax premium has “decimated” local property markets, with house prices falling and the number of homes for sale soaring'
This is exactly the point of it you fuckwit 🤦
West Wales sees surge in vacant homes despite council tax clampdowns
Wales now has the highest percentage of vacant and second homes in the UK, according to new research from Compare My Move — with Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire all ranking in the top half of the national league table.
The findings show that 8.71% of homes in Wales are either second homes with no usual residents or completely vacant — edging ahead of London (8.69%) and well above the UK average. Four Welsh counties feature in the UK’s top 10 emptiest areas, including Gwynedd, Ceredigion, Denbighshire, and the Isle of Anglesey.
Despite efforts by local councils to curb second-home ownership through council tax premiums, the data suggests the problem is far from solved.
📊 Swansea: 0.8% second homes, 7.6% vacant dwellings — 8.4% combined
📊 Carmarthenshire: 0.9% second homes, 7.7% vacant dwellings — 8.6% combined
📊 Pembrokeshire: 3.7% second homes, 10.2% vacant dwellings — 13.9% combined
Tax hikes, but little slowdown
In recent years, councils across South West Wales have introduced steep council tax premiums to discourage second-home ownership:
But Compare My Move’s managing director Dave Sayce warns that even with these measures, the trend may continue.
“Wales is a very attractive area for second-home buyers due to its lower house prices,” he said. “Even with tax implications, we’re not convinced we’ll see a reduction in the percentage of homes sitting empty most of the year.”
West vs East: A widening divide
The data also highlights a stark east-west divide. Counties in West Wales — with lower average house prices — are seeing higher rates of second-home ownership and vacancy. In contrast, areas like Bridgend, Caerphilly, and Torfaen report the lowest combined rates.
“Lower prices and cost of living make West Wales attractive to outside buyers,” Sayce added. “But that pushes up local prices and makes it harder for residents to get on the property ladder.”
Full Welsh league table: Vacant and second homes combined
RankCountyCombined %House Price1Gwynedd19.2%£228,7062Ceredigion15.9%£257,3183Denbighshire15.9%£220,3164Isle of Anglesey14.9%£260,4525Pembrokeshire13.9%£251,4826Powys10.0%£273,5377Conwy9.9%£245,1148Carmarthenshire8.6%£218,7859Swansea8.4%£210,92010Blaenau Gwent7.7%£156,614…Neath Port Talbot6.1%£176,619…Bridgend4.9%£246,019With a 31% rise in people moving from England to Wales in the first half of 2025, the pressure on housing stock is only expected to grow.
More on second homes and council tax in Wales
Council rakes in extra £12.5m in council tax from second homes and empty properties
Published April 2024: Welsh councils collectively generate millions in additional revenue through premiums on second homes and vacant dwellings.
Pembrokeshire Council votes for 200% council tax premium for second homes
Published February 2024: Councillors approve steep tax hike aimed at curbing second-home ownership and easing pressure on local housing.
Council tax for second homes and empty properties could double in Neath Port Talbot
Published March 2024: Local authority considers new measures to tackle housing availability and affordability amid rising vacancy rates.
Council launches first-time buyer loan scheme funded by second home charges
The Homebuy Pembrokeshire scheme is funded by the council’s Second Home Premium and looks to address some of the issues buyers face when looking to purchase a home.
Pembrokeshire experiences large variances in property prices across the County that can make many areas unaffordable for first-time buyers. Despite saving a deposit and securing access to a mortgage, house prices can remain a barrier to home ownership.
Pembrokeshire County Council says its Homebuy Pembrokeshire will help to remove this barrier by providing a loan of up to 30% of the property value that is used towards the purchase.
With no interest to pay, the loan is secured against the property as a legal charge, with the value linked to the current market value of the property.
This scheme will be available for an open market property in the County, with additional support if the buyer wishes to purchase an ‘empty property’.
There are schemes throughout Wales that help with the purchase of a new build property. Homebuy Pembrokeshire is different and is only available for Pembrokeshire’s general open housing market.
Under this scheme buyers will have options to make repayment as funds become available, allowing them to reach full ownership.
Cllr Michelle Bateman, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “The launch of Homebuy Pembrokeshire is part of the administration’s commitment to increasing the supply of affordable housing of all tenures.
“We know that there are barriers which prevent people being able to move onto the housing ladder, and we hope that with this support we can give first-time buyers an opportunity to own their own home.
“The scheme is part of a wide range of measures being taken to address the housing crisis, including our development and acquisitions programme, leasing scheme Wales and support for those wanting to bring empty properties back into use.”
All Homebuy Pembrokeshire applicants need to prove that they have a local connection to the County to qualify, along with other qualifying factors.
This scheme has secured £1million to run as a pilot project, which will invest any return on loans to help grow the County’s affordable housing programme.
#AffordableHousing #firstTimeBuyers #housing #loans #Pembrokeshire #PembrokeshireCouncil #secondHomes
Council rakes in extra £12.5m in extra council tax from second homes and empty properties
Responding to a question posed by member of the public, Sian Evans, at the council’s meeting on 8 May the council revealed
In the meeting, Cllr Joshua Beynon, Pembrokeshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance and Efficiencies said in 2024-2025, £12.45m was received from the council tax premiums, although the actual overall figure has yet to be confirmed.
Cllr Bateman said the premium was not set for raising the tax base, but was “simply a consequence,” to the policy of deterring the use of properties in the county as second homes.
Council figures revealed that in 2024 there were 3,271 properties in Pembrokeshire registered as second homes, down from 3,364 in 2023.
The council currently charges a 150% council tax surplus on second homes, which is a reduction from the 200% charge – effectively a triple rate – that was implemented previously.
Welsh Government legislation allows councils to increase the council tax premiums on second homes to as much as 300%, effectively a quadruple rate.
#CouncilTax #Pembrokeshire #PembrokeshireCouncil #secondHomes
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