Holiday home owners may face higher tax bills

Cotswolds homeowners may face higher tax on second properties

Owners of holiday homes and second houses may face an increase in tax bills and waste collection charges.

According to Office for National Statistics data, around one in 10 properties in the Cotswolds are often vacant.

Councillor Gina Blomefield said the rise of empty properties let for business are decreasing the supply of housing available for would-be residents.

“The popularity of the Cotswolds... is mirrored in places such as the Lake District... it would be good to have greater control of these type of tenures and also capture more financial benefit for Cotswold District Council," she said.

The council is considering a rise in waste collection charges on holiday homes

The proportion of a band D property’s annual council tax bill which goes towards Cotswold District Council services is currently £148.93, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

At a recent meeting Councillor Blomefield asked if leaders could form a group to look into increasing taxes on empty homes and waste charges on holiday homes registered as a business.

Finance cabinet member Mike Evemy replied the authority would be considering the issue in March.

However, he did not feel there was a need to create a formal group as officers are already working on a potential proposal to increase council tax on second homes and vacant properties.

He added that the council is also working on charges to second properties for waste collection.