Council tax second home premium

Binsky_snuff

Hello. I live in Germany in rented accomodation, but when I retired in 2023, I bought a small flat in my home town in England to use as a holiday flat. The first year, I paid normal council tax on my UK flat, now I have been issued a new bill with the double amount of council tax one being a second home premium. It doesn't seem right, what has the UK council got to do with the EU? I would understand if I had 2 properties in the UK but I don't....

FlorayG

Where you actually have your main residence is immaterial. The flat in the UK is not your main residence, so you pay double council tax on it. 
The double tax is not caused by you having two properties, it's caused by you not living in the one in UK

Binsky_snuff

Thank you for your comment. It sounds ridiculous to have to pay double council tax when the flat is empty most of the year. But I appreciate you taking the time to answer.

BikingBud

Binsky_snuff said:

Thank you for your comment. It sounds ridiculous to have to pay double council tax when the flat is empty most of the year. But I appreciate you taking the time to answer.

As I understand it, given the apparent shortage of housing, that is exactly the situation they are trying to avoid.

A small flat could be providing full time accommodation to people that are currently without.

newsgroupmonkey_

Binsky_snuff said:

Thank you for your comment. It sounds ridiculous to have to pay double council tax when the flat is empty most of the year. But I appreciate you taking the time to answer.

You probably haven't realised, but we have a huge housing crisis in the UK. There are simply not enough houses for people to live in.

So councils have been given the right to "persuade" second home owners to sell up and allow first home owners to get on the ladder.

In many seaside towns, in particular, there are locals living in tents and caravans in the summer, because they can't even find somewhere to rent!

ReadySteadyPop

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

Binsky_snuff said:

Thank you for your comment. It sounds ridiculous to have to pay double council tax when the flat is empty most of the year. But I appreciate you taking the time to answer.

You probably haven't realised, but we have a huge housing crisis in the UK. There are simply not enough houses for people to live in.

So councils have been given the right to "persuade" second home owners to sell up and allow first home owners to get on the ladder.

In many seaside towns, in particular, there are locals living in tents and caravans in the summer, because they can't even find somewhere to rent!

They should move to Scotland, supply of available rentals just went up 30% supposedly.

ReadySteadyPop

Binsky_snuff said:

Hello. I live in Germany in rented accomodation, but when I retired in 2023, I bought a small flat in my home town in England to use as a holiday flat. The first year, I paid normal council tax on my UK flat, now I have been issued a new bill with the double amount of council tax one being a second home premium. It doesn't seem right, what has the UK council got to do with the EU? I would understand if I had 2 properties in the UK but I don't....

As you only own one home surely you shouldn`t be paying a "second home premium"? Is there a "housing shortage" in Germany, or is that only a UK thing?

BikingBud

ReadySteadyPop said:

Binsky_snuff said:

Hello. I live in Germany in rented accomodation, but when I retired in 2023, I bought a small flat in my home town in England to use as a holiday flat. The first year, I paid normal council tax on my UK flat, now I have been issued a new bill with the double amount of council tax one being a second home premium. It doesn't seem right, what has the UK council got to do with the EU? I would understand if I had 2 properties in the UK but I don't....

As you only own one home surely you shouldn`t be paying a "second home premium"? Is there a "housing shortage" in Germany, or is that only a UK thing?

https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/second-homes-and-empty-properties
Second homes and empty properties
Second homes
You’ll usually have to pay Council Tax on another property you own or rent, such as a holiday home. These properties are furnished and do not have anyone living in them as their main home. They are also known as ‘second homes’

Seems straightforward to me.

theartfullodger

Binsky_snuff said:

Hello. I live in Germany in rented accomodation, but when I retired in 2023, I bought a small flat in my home town in England to use as a holiday flat. The first year, I paid normal council tax on my UK flat, now I have been issued a new bill with the double amount of council tax one being a second home premium. It doesn't seem right, what has the UK council got to do with the EU? I would understand if I had 2 properties in the UK but I don't....

Sounds entirely legally and morally correct to me.  

Perhaps you could work for a closer and more effective UK (not united, no my king) /EU relationship?

Best wishes to all .

DullGreyGuy

Binsky_snuff said:

Hello. I live in Germany in rented accomodation, but when I retired in 2023, I bought a small flat in my home town in England to use as a holiday flat. The first year, I paid normal council tax on my UK flat, now I have been issued a new bill with the double amount of council tax one being a second home premium. It doesn't seem right, what has the UK council got to do with the EU? I would understand if I had 2 properties in the UK but I don't....

Anyone who owns a domestic residence where they are the person responsible for the council tax but dont live at the address now has to pay double council tax, doesn't matter where your primary residence is. 

Being able to afford a spare property has made you target for paying extra tax. The options are to rent it out so the tenant is responsible for the council tax, sell it, or such it up and accept that you're fortunate enough to be able to afford two homes

Binsky_snuff

Thanks for all of your comments. I understand the point. The small flat I bought in the UK was my retirement treat in my hometown after working 40 years. I don't want to sell it because of the extra council tax, there are so many properties on the market in my village for sale anyway, so I will terminate my rented accomodation in Germany.