Council Tax Doubles for Second Home Owners in UK Regions

New legislation aims to increase housing availability and generate additional revenue, with changes to take effect from April 2024.

New legislation has been passed in East Yorkshire, Shropshire, and Scotland that allows local authorities to charge up to double the council tax rates on second homes.
The new rules are aimed at encouraging owners to put second or empty homes on the market, thereby increasing the supply of housing.
The changes also include extra charges for homes that have been empty for more than a year, a reduction from the previous two-year requirement.
The new charges are expected to come into effect from April 2024.
The councils estimate that the new charges could bring in significant additional revenue each year.