Yorkshire’s coast faces dual tax clouds in second homes tax and visitor levy
Yorkshire’s coast is one of the region’s crown jewels when it comes to tourism. But in order for these places to continue to provide the welcome that keeps bringing visitors to this part of the world, the needs of the people who live and work there cannot be overlooked.
The doubling of council tax on second homes was a well meaning policy from North Yorkshire Council that has had unintended consequences for places like Whitby, Scarborough and Filey.
The premise of the policy was simple, to bring more homes into circulation for local families who were increasingly being priced out by holiday lets. Schools were closing and families were unable to lay down roots as a result of the high costs and dwindling infrastructure.
While the thought behind the second homes tax was clear, local leaders must now confront the reality that it has borne in these places.
When the premium is being applied to properties that cannot be lived in by local residents, cannot be let and cannot be re-purposed then a rethink is clearly needed on the policy. Especially if it is resulting in elderly and vulnerable residents being penalised at a time of bereavement or declining health.
Yorkshire’s seaside towns are also facing another potential tax cloud in the form of a visitor levy. Understandably it is making hospitality businesses nervous, many of whom are already being squeezed as a result of cost rises and an increased tax burden.
The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire says the tourist tax will generate money local authorities are “not coming up with” for investment into vital infrastructure of tourism towns.
But as this newspaper has previously warned, mayors must tread carefully as the unintended consequences of such a levy could prove economically fatal to parts of Yorkshire.