Second homes are partly blamed for pushing up house prices

Currently second home owners pay only 50%, but under new powers councils will be able to charge as much as 90%.

In the South Hams area of south Devon, 11% of properties are second homes, one of the highest proportions in the UK.

It is one factor which has helped to push up house prices, making it difficult for local people to be able to afford homes.

It is estimated that if all Devon councils followed suit it would raise an extra �7m a year.

I don't think people buying second homes will be too worried if they have to pay an extra 40% on their council tax South Hams leader Richard Younge What do you think?

South Hams leader Richard Yonge said the extra money will be spent on providing more housing for local people.

He said: "We would spend the money on housing, not just at the social rented level, but also the middle band for people who are young professionals who have to live in these places for their work.

"I don't think people buying second homes will be too worried if they have to pay an extra 40% on their council tax."

Businessman Simon Hume from Hindhead in Surrey has just bought a second home in Noss Mayo.

Special motion

He said: "We will be doing holiday lets from it, which I think is very important because otherwise you end up with holiday home owners who are away for weeks on end and take all the life out of the village.

"I would comfortably pay 100% because I don't see the justification for the half rate."

A special motion on raising council tax for second home owners is being put before the local authority on Thursday.

North Devon Council is also considering raising council tax for second homes.

Council deputy leader Dave Butt, said: "We are losing the type of housing that first-time buyers would buy, which go to holiday lets.

"We have a serious problem retaining staff in the authority and also in schools and in the medical profession."