Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has unearthed that the implementation of second home council tax premiums, where home owners pay up to double the normal rate, is resulting in financial losses to local authorities.
Having submitted freedom of information requests asking, in relation to the council tax premium on second homes, for the financial losses from property owners switching from council tax to business rates, several authorities have reported losses.
Ceredigion has seen a financial loss of £1m since 2016/17
Conwy has seen a financial loss of £1.8m since 2012/13
Pembrokeshire has seen a financial loss £3.6m of since 2019/20
The figures would be higher if it was assumed that the properties switching from second homes to business rates in one financial year, remained qualified for business rates in the following financial years.
In Conwy County 1020 properties have moved from paying council tax and the second home premium to business rates.
Commenting on the impact of the second home premium, Janet said:
“The evidence from West Wales is clear that the second home premium is failing in its claimed aim of delivering more homes for people to live in.
“Authorities such as Conwy, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire are seeing high numbers of properties switching to qualify for business rates, rather than pay normal council tax, let alone the premium.
“At a time when local authorities across Wales are struggling financially, it is a major failure of Welsh Government that they have developed a second home policy for local authorities to implement that results in major financial losses.
“I do not doubt that there would now be more properties paying council tax, and money coming in to local authorities, should the second home premiums not have been introduced”.
ENDS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi datgelu bod gweithredu premiymau treth gyngor ail gartrefi, sy’n golygu bod perchnogion tai yn talu hyd at ddwbl y gyfradd arferol, yn golygu colledion ariannol i awdurdodau lleol.
Cyflwynwyd ceisiadau rhyddid gwybodaeth mewn perthynas â’r premiwm treth gyngor ar ail gartrefi. Holwyd am golledion ariannol yn sgil perchnogion eiddo yn newid o’r dreth gyngor i ardrethi busnes, ac mae nifer o awdurdodau wedi adrodd colledion.
Mae Ceredigion wedi gweld colled ariannol o £1 miliwn ers 2016/17
Mae Conwy wedi gweld colled ariannol o £1.8 miliwn ers 2012/13
Mae Sir Benfro wedi gweld colled ariannol o £3.6 miliwn ers 2019/20
Mae’r ffigurau'n uwch os ydyn ni’n tybio bod eiddo sy'n newid o gael eu hystyried fel ail gartrefi i fod yn gymwys i dalu ardrethi busnes o fewn un flwyddyn ariannol yn parhau yn gymwys ar gyfer ardrethi busnes yn y blynyddoedd ariannol canlynol.
Yn Sir Conwy, mae 1020 eiddo wedi symud o dalu treth gyngor a'r premiwm ail gartrefi i ardrethi busnes.
Wrth sôn am effaith y premiwm ail gartrefi, dywedodd Janet:
"Mae'r dystiolaeth o Orllewin Cymru yn glir bod y premiwm ail gartrefi yn methu yn ei nod o ddarparu mwy o gartrefi i bobl fyw ynddyn nhw.
"Mae awdurdodau fel Conwy, Ceredigion a Sir Benfro yn gweld niferoedd uchel o eiddo yn newid i fod yn gymwys ar gyfer ardrethi busnes, yn hytrach na thalu treth gyngor arferol, heb sôn am y premiwm.
"Ar adeg pan fo awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru yn cael trafferthion ariannol, mae'n fethiant mawr gan Lywodraeth Cymru eu bod wedi datblygu polisi ail gartrefi i awdurdodau lleol ei roi ar waith sy'n golygu colledion ariannol mawr iddyn nhw.
"Does dim amheuaeth gen i y byddai mwy o eiddo yn talu treth gyngor nawr, a mwy o arian yn dod mewn i awdurdodau lleol, pe na bai'r premiymau ail gartrefi wedi eu cyflwyno".
DIWEDD
Ffoto:
Janet Finch-Saunders AS
