No council tax discount for holiday home owners in Conwy
Richard Evans, local democracy reporter
Holiday home owners will not get discount on their council tax in Conwy, it has been confirmed.
Conwy County Council met this week to discuss the level of council tax discount for holiday homes as well as unoccupied and unfurnished properties.
A report revealed Conwy has 57,704 dwellings, of which 1,533 fall into class A or B homes, usually described as second homes or holiday homes. Class C homes are homes that are either unoccupied or unfurnished. Conwy has 979 of these class C properties. Councils have discretion to grant up to 50% council tax discount.
Cllr Brian Cossey made a presentation to councillors but explained any decision did not relate to council tax premiums.
Cllr Cossey pointed to Conwy’s large number of families living in temporary accommodation and said: “As a council, we have consistently determined not to allow a discount for these properties in these three classes.
“I think since 2004/05, we’ve never given a discount, and obviously as regard to class C, this has been to encourage long-term empty properties to come back into use, and we’re all well aware of the housing challenges.
“And also you must remember providing a discount will have an impact on our revenue account that we raise via council tax, and obviously year on year, we have never budgeted for a discount to these classes of properties.”
‘Recommendation’
Cllr Cossey then made the proposal to follow the report recommendation and not allow discount.
Cllr Mike Priestley added: “I would like to second this proposal for the very reasons Brian has mentioned. You know our financial situation at the moment. We just can’t budget for it.”
Cllr Ifor Lloyd agreed. “I’m also happy to support this,” he said. “Houses in my area have been turned into holiday homes in the last month, I think. We don’t want people taking over our own young people’s homes.”
Cllr Nigel Smith also said: “I think it is important we try to encourage as many properties back into use as we can.”
The decision was unanimous.
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Not get a discount? It ought to be doubled at the very least, and not just for ‘holiday home owners’ – what about the farmers who have hoovered up the housing stock in Llanrwst over the past few years?
If that is a recent photo (and not from the library stock), why is Sam Rowlands still there? He is now a Tory MS. Greedy boy!
If you can afford two homes, you can afford a premium to pay for the ‘Holiday’ Home!
Janet Finch-Saunders will be upset…. but not anything like enough until they increase holiday home rates to a figure that makes a difference.
Janet Finch-Saunders will be upset…. but not anything like enough until they increase holiday home rates to a figure that makes a difference.