Photos and original article by Gareth Wyn-Williams in the Daily Post: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/could-conwy-council-ch…;
Conwy could become the fourth council in north Wales authority to slap a council tax hike on holiday homeowners.
The county council, where almost 1,500 second homes are located, is proposing to charge 25% more council tax on those who own second homes but double the charge for long-term empty properties.
Council leaders say the move is to bring long-term empty homes back into use to provide more affordable homes.
But concerns have been raised by the local AM, Janet Finch Saunders, who feels the measures may deter development in the county.
She said: “Proposals to charge up to a 100% premium on second homes and long-term empty properties threatens to discourage individuals from buying local properties to develop for use, and these potential charges will pose a further concern.”
But according to the Welsh Local Government Association, the measure is a “much-needed and practical way of using the local taxation system to ensure second homes make a fair contribution to the provision of local services and affordable homes”.
If the proposals are approved the increase will come into force in April 2018.
It would make Conwy the seventh authority in the whole of Wales to inflict increased rates.
Anglesey, Gwynedd and Ceredigion have already introduced hikes with Flintshire, Powys and Pembrokeshire agreeing to raise rates by 50% from April 1, 2017.
An estimated 23,000 homes in Wales are empty or used as second homes, and changes to the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 mean councils can now charge a premium of up to 100% extra.
The report, that will be discussed by the council’s Principal Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday, shows 1,477 second homes in the county, and another 1,168 being empty in the long-term.
The highest number of holiday homes are in Llandudno (366), followed by Conwy/ Deganwy/Llandudno Junction (276) and Rhos on Sea (108).
Llandudno also has the highest number of long-term empty homes (211) with Colwyn Bay (146) with Conwy/Deganwy/ Llandudno Junction (135) not far behind.
After Monday’s meeting the proposals will go before the authority’s cabinet.
Before a decision can be made the measures will go before the full council.