Second homes extra tax call (From Gazette & Herald)

Second homes extra tax call

SECOND home owners could be charged up to six times the rate of council tax, under radical proposals to stop Ryedale residents being priced out of their towns and villages.

District councillors will be urged to approve a motion appealing to the Government to authorise a number of measures aimed at halting rocketing house prices.

Coun John Clark, the Liberal member for Cropton, said: "Most house prices in Ryedale have moved beyond the affordable reach not only of the young and poor but also of the average wage earners."

According to Coun Clark, pictured, the reasons for this are Ryedale's low wage, tourist-based economy, small homes being bought as holiday cottages, and people buying second homes in the area.

"What I've a problem with is the fact that they are using a living unit that could be lived in by somebody else and therefore they shouldn't be using it," said Coun Clark.

He said he was not suggesting that "a fortress be built round Ryedale", but he believed if people did buy houses in the area, they should live and work there too.

"Young people in Ryedale are going to carry on being 'ethnically cleansed'.

People who are born here and are the fifth or fourth generation are being pushed out by people with big fat cheque books," he said.

"What we've got at the moment is artificially high house prices caused by people buying them as a luxury."

The motion Coun Clark has put before the council is to consult with the Government over:

Taxing the second of two homes in line with other "harmful" luxuries like tobacco, alcohol and petrol

Levying capital gains tax, inheritance or multiples of council tax on second homes

Making planning permission obligatory if a house is turned into a second home or holiday let

Charging up to six times the council tax rate on second homes.

A large part of this cash would then be returned to the authority to support affordable homes

"It's a thing that Ryedale District Council can't do, but it's got to bang on the Government's door and say: 'Excuse me, this is what we need'," said Coun Clark.

The motion will be discussed at the full council meeting at 6.30pm on Thursday at Ryedale House, Old Malton Road, Malton.

Updated: 11:35 Monday, February 28, 2005