Plan for tax charge on second homes in County Durham

THE county council is to consult on making savings and introducing a premium for second homes.
Members of Durham County Council’s cabinet last week discussed the authority’s updated Medium Term Financial Plan forecasts.
Cllr Richard Bell, deputy leader of Durham County Council and cabinet member for finance, said: “Despite the increases in grant funding we have been provided with in the current year and the grant we expect to receive next year, our forecasts show that this will fall short of what we need to set a balanced budget next year.
“We simply cannot raise sufficient income locally to meet the unavoidable cost increases we face each year so unless government funding meets the shortfall, difficult choices are always going to be required under the current system of funding. We have and will continue to call for the current system, including council tax, to be reformed.”
The cabinet will hear about proposals to help save £12.135million to balance the 2024/25 budget.
The council plans to consult on proposals to utilise additional council tax raising powers on absent owners of empty and second homes.
There would be a 100 per cent premium being applied to homes that have been empty for more than 12 months, and a 100 per cent premium applied to second homes.
New powers mean councils can charge up to 100 per cent extra on the standard council tax bill that would be payable if the property were occupied by two adults and no discounts were applicable.