Shropshire second home owners face council tax hike

Shropshire Council has agreed to a 100% council tax rise on second homes from April 2025

A crackdown on second home owners in Shropshire is set to see more people pay double council tax under changes agreed by the local authority.

Shropshire Council hopes the measure will bring more properties "back into use" while also generating revenue.

The move was unanimously approved on 14 December.

Councils may apply the premium under government legislation introduced this year.

It comes as councils across England seek answers to shortfalls in available homes for residents.

Payment can be sought by the council as early as April 2025.

Finance member Gwilym Butler told the council he was "pleased" with the development.

He said tourism was "vital" to Shropshire and that the decision was not "an attack on the tourism industry" but was aimed at those who "try and hide their second homes" without paying appropriately.

Figures produced by the council suggest the equivalent of 455 band D properties could be added to its tax calculations.

Those who leave any home empty for 12 months, rather than the current 24-month window, will also be subjected to the hike.

Existing premiums on properties that have remained empty for five or ten years - respectively three and four times the single property tax levy - will continue.

This news story was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.