Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Second Homes in Coastal Areas

Monday 20 February 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department is taking steps to address the number of second homes in coastal areas through a new council tax second homes premium.
  • Duncan Baker raised concerns about clause 73 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, calling for greater clarification and support for communities.
  • Luke Pollard questioned the Minister about families being displaced from their homes to accommodate second homes and Airbnbs, highlighting the need for a registration scheme to understand and address the issue.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Duncan Baker
Housing Local Government
Context

The MP is concerned about the concentration of second homes in coastal areas like North Norfolk, which impacts local communities.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to address numbers of second homes in coastal areas. The ability to double council tax on second homes is a real step in the right direction to help communities, such as mine in North Norfolk, that suffer from a high concentration of second homes. However, clause 73 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill requires greater clarification.

Answer from Rachel Maclean

My hon. Friend does a superb job of representing communities affected by large numbers of second homes. The new council tax second homes premium will enable councils, particularly in areas such as his with a strong tourism industry, to generate significant additional funding for local services. If they introduce the maximum premium, they will benefit from double the council tax revenue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Clause 73 clarification requested but not directly addressed.

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Q2 Duncan Baker
Local Government
Context

The MP is concerned about the concentration of second homes in coastal areas like North Norfolk, which impacts local communities.

Question

However, clause 73 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill requires greater clarification. Currently, a district council such as North Norfolk benefits from just 8p in the pound from council tax revenue. Does the Minister agree that we ought to look at that clause and ensure that the communities affected by second homes are the ones that benefit from additional taxation raised?

Answer from Rachel Maclean

My hon. Friend does a superb job of representing communities affected by large numbers of second homes. The new council tax second homes premium will enable councils, particularly in areas such as his with a strong tourism industry, to generate significant additional funding for local services. If they introduce the maximum premium, they will benefit from double the council tax revenue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Clause 73 clarification requested but not directly addressed.

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Q3 Luke Pollard Labour (Co-op) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Housing
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of section 21 notices on families being displaced to make way for second homes in rural areas like Plymouth, Devon, and Cornwall.

Question

Families are being turfed out of their private rented homes under section 21 notices so that they can be turned into second homes and Airbnbs. Does the Minister agree with south-west supporters of the First Homes Not Second Homes campaign, which I run with Cornwall councillor Jayne Kirkham, that it is time not only for increased council tax on second homes but for a proper licensing regime, so that communities can decide how many second homes should be in their community?

Answer from Rachel Maclean

We are looking at the issue of registration of second homes through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill and other frameworks. We understand that people want to go on holiday to beautiful areas, but there is an impact on communities. We need the registration scheme so that we understand and better mitigate that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Licensing regime not directly addressed.

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