Forest of Dean District Council agrees to additional tax on second homes
District Councillors have agreed to proposals which will see an increase in Council Tax payments on empty and second homes, with the aim of increasing the number of homes available for local people in the area.
Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Andy Moore said:
“There are currently over 300 homes in the Forest of Dean that are considered second homes, and we believe that this legislation will help to bring that number down.
“In part due to things like the second home market, house prices in the Forest of Dean have risen substantially over the last few years, making it more difficult for local people to be able to buy property in the district. We believe that these changes will help to increase the number of homes available and may help to balance house prices in the area.
“The additional income brought into the council from the empty and second homes will also help us to continue to provide local services for residents at a time when Government funding is reducing.”
In May 2022, the previous Government published the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. The bill included proposals aimed at further addressing empty properties through the reduction in time after which a premium on an empty property can be charged (from 2 years to 1 year). It will also allow councils to introduce a council tax premium of up to 100% on second homes.
Following Full Council on Thursday 12 December, Forest of Dean District Councillors have now agreed to a 100% Council Tax premium in respect of Second Home properties as well as reducing the period a premium can be applied to a Long-Term Empty property from two years to one from 1 April 2025.
For council tax purposes, a second home is defined as a dwelling which is not a person’s sole or main home and is substantially furnished. There are approximately 309 second homes in the Forest of Dean district. These properties are currently subject to the full 100% council tax charge.
Notification letters were sent to all second homeowners in March 2024 advising that the Council is considering implementing this premium from 1 April 2025, ensuring that the mandatory 12-month notice has been given to second homeowners.
Full details for Council Tax, including details for how to pay Council Tax online and on second homes, can be found on the Council’s website: https://www.fdean.gov.uk/council-tax-and-benefits/