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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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UK house. Photo by James Feaver on Unsplash
North Devon Council has said they are reminding residents with second homes about upcoming changes to council tax charges.
Starting on 1 April 2025, properties classified as second homes will incur a 100 per cent premium, effectively doubling the standard rate.
The council has sent letters to the 2,246 properties affected by this change to ensure homeowners are informed.
This premium was introduced following the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, which allows councils to impose additional charges on second homes.
The decision to implement this premium was made by councillors in February 2023, allowing the required 12-month notice before the changes take effect.
This decision was reaffirmed at a council meeting on 17 January 2024 after the bill received royal assent.
Second homes are defined as furnished properties that are not anyone's primary residence. The additional revenue generated from this premium will be shared among the major precepting authorities based on their respective shares of council tax.
Lead member for Housing at North Devon Council, Councillor Graham M Bell, said: “This premium is not being put in place to penalise second home owners. We hope by increasing council tax on second homes we can encourage individuals to release the home back onto the property market.”
He added: “In North Devon we see many families forced to leave the area due to a lack of available housing. This measure is part of an overall ambition to increase the overall supply of housing in the area. Alternatively, we would encourage second home owners to make North Devon their sole residence and become a closer part of our beautiful community.”
The council has said they are committed to using the additional revenue raised through this premium for housing projects, including providing temporary accommodation for local families in need.
The council's Empty Homes Project also offers owners of vacant properties the chance to rent their homes through the council's Private Sector Lease Scheme.
More information about this initiative can be found on the council's Empty Homes Project webpages.
Residents can visit the council's official website for further details on how council tax is allocated.
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