Thousands of second-home owners across England are set to see their council tax bills double when a fresh wave of local authorities implements 100 per cent surcharges from April.
Some 38 councils will begin levying the premium on properties not rented out or used as holiday lets, potentially affecting up to 12,300 homes, new analysis shown.
The ability to impose these additional charges was introduced in April last year, with approximately 211 councils—around 71 per cent of all English local authorities—adopting the measures immediately.
Aneisha Beveridge from Hamptons estate agency said: “We’re entering a second wave of charges as councils look for fresh ways to boost their budgets.
“The big second-home destinations were quick to introduce the surcharge, but now others are set to follow.”
Amongthe councils set to introduce the levy is Wiltshire, where more than 1,300 second homes could be affected, according to analysis by The Times.
The London borough of Hillingdon is also planning to apply the surcharge, with nearly 750 additional properties in the area likely to be impacted.
South Norfolk, a rural council, intends to impose the premium on most of its roughly 600 second homes, while Stratford-Upon-Avon has more than 800 properties that could face doubled council tax bills from the spring.
Meanwhile, 47 councils across England currently have no intention of implementing any form of second-home surcharge.
However, some authorities not yet charging the premium have been urged to consider doing so to address budget shortfalls, with estimates suggesting Kensington & Chelsea alone could generate £12million and Cherwell could raise £1.6million.
Councils in England have been given the power to charge additional council tax of up to 100 per cent on second homes | GETTY
Not all of the 12,300 properties in affected areas will necessarily face the premium straight away, as certain exemptions apply.
Homes provided by employers for their workers are automatically excluded from the surcharge, as are properties where planning conditions prevent them from being occupied as a primary residence.
Those looking to dispose of their second home can also avoid the doubled bills if the property is actively being marketed for sale or rental.
The research found that 17 per cent of the 236,000 second homes in areas that had already adopted the surcharge were benefiting from exemptions.
Some 38 councils will begin levying the premium on properties not rented out or used as holiday lets
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GETTYThis suggests a significant proportion of owners in the newly affected council areas may also qualify for relief from the additional charges.
The TaxPayers’ Alliance has condemned the incoming charges as excessive and unjustified.
Elliot Keck from the campaign group said: “For thousands of households across the country, the new year threatens a crippling tax raid on their properties.”
He added: “As well as yet another year of inflation-busting council tax rises, many will also face their bills being doubled as local authorities levy punitive charges on anyone who dares to be affluent.”
The organisation, which advocates for reduced taxation, argues that the measures lack proper justification.
“There is no justification for this, given that second-home owners will make much less use of council services,” Mr Keck said.
The criticism comes as councils seek new revenue streams amid ongoing financial pressures across local government.