Second home council tax discount cut

wotsthat

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Based on a Band D property, around £1,674,750 in Cornwall. Per year.

Minus the council tax of those who decide to avoid (not evade) it altogether by letting out the property to holidaymakers for however many days is required.

I bet they still put their bins out though.

Graham_Devon

ukcarper wrote: »

So it will raise £167 a year on a band d house, I would think if you can afford a second home that won't make much difference to you. How many second homes do you think there are in Devon and Cornwall.

So what's the problem if it makes little difference?

Theres 25,500 second home owners in cornwall and devon.

One in every 20 houses in cornwall is a second home.

In parts of Devon, four out of every ten houses in a second home.

Would like to point out that the above numbers are after a 10% decline in second homes in Devon tanks to the recession and second home owners selling up. The numbers have been higher.

ukcarper

Graham_Devon wrote: »

So what's the problem if it makes little difference?

Theres 25,500 second home owners in cornwall and devon.

I don't see a problem about £4 million then.

Graham_Devon

ukcarper wrote: »

I don't see a problem about £4 million then.

Yep.

To put it into context the money raised in Devon would add over 1% to the budget alone.

Not bad really, just for charging wealthier people the same amount as the less wealthy.

This doesn't take into consideration the voids mentioned earlier.

And to put it into context again, they are saving £450,000 in Devon per year by turning the street lighting off at night, which has been shown to lead a rise in crime and increase danger on some roads. This is all to save money.

wotsthat

Graham_Devon wrote: »

So what's the problem if it makes little difference?

It'll increase the total tax burden - do you really think your council tax will drop by £20 as a result.

£2,000,000 extra tax raised in Devon. I bet the two of us could find those sort of savings in an afternoon - why can't the council?

Graham_Devon

wotsthat wrote: »

It'll increase the total tax burden - do you really think your council tax will drop by £20 as a result.

I never said it would and haven't suggested that on this thread, or any other.

Let's not go down this path

I realise why you are against such a policy. But I find it hard to find reasons to be against it.

We probably could stop wastage in the council. But that doesn't mean we should rule out easy, extra, fair income. If second home owners were being asked to pay more, as counsellors are actively trying to push at the moment (100% more) then my thoughts would be different. They are just being asked to pay the same though. Very difficult to argue against IMO.

wotsthat

Graham_Devon wrote: »

I never said it would and haven't suggested that on this thread, or any other.

Let's not go down this path

I realise why you are against such a policy. But I find it hard to find reasons to be against it.

We probably could stop wastage in the council. But that doesn't mean we should rule out easy, extra, fair income. If second home owners were being asked to pay more, as counsellors are actively trying to push at the moment (100% more) then my thoughts would be different. They are just being asked to pay the same though. Very difficult to argue against IMO.

The government are saying it “The government said the reforms would allow for a £20 reduction in the annual bill for a typical Band D property in England. The current average for a Band D property is £1,196.”. I'm not quoting you or taking you down any path - I'm asking if you believe it.

I'm against the BS argument that it's about services - it's not. Government want to raise taxes - they should just say so. According to them this would be tax neutral as they'd reduce the burden of the locals - it's not true.

heathcote123

shortchanged wrote: »

Well they would wouldn't they.:)

.

Maybe they wouldn't if we called it 'house tax', but we don't, it's 'council tax' and its always justified by the myriad of wonderful services out clipboard carrying pals provide.

CLAPTON

heathcote123 wrote: »

Maybe they wouldn't if we called it 'house tax', but we don't, it's 'council tax' and its always justified by the myriad of wonderful services out clipboard carrying pals provide.

no, it should be called land value tax and maybe house value tax as well and charged on the values ignoring the ownership

Jimmy_31

MrRee wrote: »

Second Homes where I am looking to buy one only get a 10% reduction ...... so, to be honest, £200 a year more/less will make little difference to anyone.

Its the thought that counts.