Why a council tax premium on second homes in North Yorkshire is the right thing to do - George Jabbour

Because of the fundamental impact that the availability of affordable housing has on improving the lives of local people, particularly young families, the Bill sets out several measures that would help build more homes in appropriate locations, while taking into account factors such as the quality of development, the local infrastructure and the protection of the environment.

Here in Yorkshire, we are blessed with precious landscapes, including the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks and the Howardian Hills and Nidderdale Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Therefore, in addition to building the right homes in the right places, we must diligently consider the tools available at our disposal to make the best use of existing properties in our scenic part of the world. This is where the additional powers of local authorities to apply a council tax premium of up to 100 per cent on second homes would become valuable.

Ahead of last year’s local elections, I canvassed a large number of residents by door-knocking on the majority of homes in the Helmsley and Sinnington Division. So I know first-hand the sizable proportion of second homes in our locality.

This Division, which I now represent on North Yorkshire Council, shares many similarities with other idyllic rural and coastal areas across our county: the lack of affordable housing, the difficulties confronting young people who are trying to find suitable accommodation and the significant number of second homes.

To ensure that the changes do not catch second home owners by surprise, a local authority that intends to raise council tax on second homes is required to pass a resolution to that effect more than 12 months before the beginning of the financial year in which the increase would take place.

In November 2022, nearly all North Yorkshire Councillors, including myself, voted to double council tax on second homes with a possible start date of April 1, 2024.

However, as it has taken until this autumn for the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill to reach the final stages of its passage through Parliament, the rise in council tax on second homes in North Yorkshire will not commence before April 2025.

By then, owners of second homes will have had more than two years to decide whether to keep their assets as second homes and pay the council tax premium or find another alternative, such as renting their properties out.

Since North Yorkshire’s determination about the premium on second homes, it has been reported that a quarter of local authorities with council tax responsibilities have followed suit.

While this is only a small step in dealing with the challenges facing our rural communities, it is the correct one for North Yorkshire. We must utilise every reasonable measure to expand the supply of available housing, to protect the future of young people and to appeal to the workforce needed to carry out the critical roles that our residents depend on.

George Jabbour is the councillor for Helmsley & Sinnington.