 Council tax discounts have been reduced from 50% to 10% |
People with second homes in the South West no longer qualify for large discounts in council tax. Councils across Devon and Cornwall have voted to remove the discount privilege as from 1 April.
Second home owners have had their council tax discount reduced from 50% to 10%.
Councils have taken the action in the face of ever-increasing house prices and growing problems for local people in finding homes.
New freedoms
Last November, South Hams Council, which has one of the highest levels of second home ownership in England - became the first local authority in the country to reduce the council tax discount.
A total of 11.5%, or 4,704, of its properties are only used part time.
The council was taking advantage of new freedoms given to it by the government, which recognised the growing perception that such a discount was unfair.
The 90% council tax rate is the maximum permitted under the Local Government Act 2003.
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