Second home owners in Suffolk could see council tax double in 2025

Towns like Southwold on the Suffolk coast, are popular with second home owners

Hundreds of second home owners could see council tax bills double in the wake of a new law, councils have said.

A report said tax hikes could generate around £8m in East Suffolk and councillors say more than 1,000 second home owners in the Babergh and Mid Suffolk areas could be hit.

Councils have approved plans to impose new charges in 2025.

They want to ensure that second home owners make a "higher contribution" to "under pressure" local services.

"Under the proposals, the owners of 576 second homes in Babergh and 542 in Mid Suffolk would see their council tax bill double from April 2025," Mid Suffolk District Council said in a statement.

"The definition of a second home for council tax purposes would be a property which there is 'no one resident' but that is 'substantially furnished'."

Second home owners in Suffolk face council tax hikes

Jessie Carter, a Green Party member of Babergh District Council, added: "We want to put more homes back on the market - and ensure that those who choose to own second homes make a higher contribution to local services at a time when they are under pressure."

An East Suffolk Council report said the new legislation could represent a "significant addition" to local authorities' "income stream".

The report, prepared by officials for a recent council meeting, explained how the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which was granted Royal Assent in October, gave "billing authorities" the discretion to charge a "100% premium" on second homes from April 2025.

"Given the number of second homes in Suffolk, this 100% council tax premium should represent a significant addition to the income stream from council tax," said the report.

It added: "It is estimated that this could generate in the region of £8m in East Suffolk."