The Northern Agenda: Countryside council tax storm

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By ROB PARSONS - July 4 2022

For years, if not decades, policy-makers in the North's most desirable tourist locations have wrestled with how to stop the rise in second homes and holiday lets from damaging the communities they represent.

In areas like the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District and rural Northumberland high demand for second homes is increasing the strain on an already limited housing stock and forcing out young families, putting the future sustainability of towns and villages at risk.

The Government published its Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill in May, including more options for council tax premiums to be introduced on empty properties and second homes nationally.

But as North Yorkshire leaders are first out of the blocks by unveiling plans to double the council tax charge on second homes , some critics fear the move could reduce payments to the public purse while also failing to free up properties for local residents.

North Yorkshire County Council has said the proposal to introduce a 100% council tax premium to all second homes in the county from April 2024 will depend on the government passing legislation in the coming months.

The move would double an average band D council tax charge for second home owners to more than £4,100 in some of the most heavily affected areas of the county, writes Local Democracy Reporter Stuart Minting .

Announcing the proposal, the authority stated it had potential to generate an annual £14m windfall to fund services and