Does raising council tax on holiday homes make a difference?
The charity 'Shelter' already supports higher tax on holiday homes.
The Countryside Agency supports higher taxes on holiday homes.
The Affordable Rural Housing Commission recommended that the Westminster Government increase tax on holiday homes.
The Westminster Government has already allowed councils to increase tax on holiday homes from 50% to 100%.
But that's clearly not enough.
Wealthy people who cause damage
to our communities need to make a real contribution
to solving the problems they have helped cause.
One simple change is all that is needed as a first step - increasing council tax on holiday homes to 200%.
What is stopping this from happening?
Fear.
The fear felt by our politicians.
The fear that people will vote against them.
A groundless fear, and a needless fear
Shelter, the Countryside Agency and the Affordable Rural Housing Commission support strengthening communities in this way.
And holiday home owners don't even vote locally!
And local people vote FOR politicians who help them - and, eventually, AGAINST politicians who are too afraid to stand up for local people.
The time has come
Cymuned is a housing and communities pressure group which also supports the Welsh language.
We are calling on your Council to increase council tax on holiday homes to 200%. The extra money generated by this should be put into local projects for affordable housing for local need. If someone can afford to buy a holiday home and inflict the damage that causes on our communities, they can afford to contribute more to projects that help make up for that damage.
It's time to ditch the idea that homes are just one more way to try and squeeze profit out of the system.
It's time to call a halt to putting the pleasure of wealthy people ahead of the needs of local people.
It's time to stop the countryside from becoming nothing more than a playground for the rich.
200% tax on Holiday Homes!