From 1st April 2025, any property on the Isle of Wight which is classed as a furnished second home will be charged a premium of 100% council tax – as the Council looks to crack down on those making money from holiday lets.
This change comes after the Isle of Wight Council adopted powers set within legislation in February 2024 that permits councils across the UK to establish their own policies regarding empty properties and second homes.
However, central government has announced some exceptions where a second home premium may not apply, for example if a property is:
- A place where someone in the armed forces would live if they were not in job-related accommodation
- Part of another home, like an annexe
- For sale or rent and has been on the market for less than a year
- Needed for someone’s job
- A caravan or boat
- Subject to planning restrictions affecting its use
Councillor Ian Stephens, deputy leader of the council and Cabinet member for housing and finance, has said:
“Recent years have seen an increase in second home/holiday home ownership and a rise on ‘staycations’ and short-term lets. These factors have reduced the availability of housing on the Island.
“Second home ownership across the Island is significant and is recognised to have a negative impact in terms of the supply of homes available to meet local housing needs.
“Initial analysis shows that the application of a 100 per cent premium on second homes could generate additional council tax revenue in excess of £5million which will support the delivery of services for all Islanders.”
To find out more information about the second homes premium, exceptions and to fill out an exception form, visit www.iow.gov.uk/premiums.
You will need to complete an Empty Property and Second Home Review Form to tell the Council the details and supply the evidence asked for on the form. Physical forms can also be downloaded from the webpage.
Good. Although the loopholes should be removed, and if not removed they should be checked up on. Expect a big second home sell off soon then. About the only thing starmers army have got right.
I hope you don’t rely on the tourist income to support you. Also where do you stay if you go on holiday?
I wonder if 11 homes Rishi pays Double Council
tax on all of his properties?, or does he know
loopholes.
Lol
Brilliant idea, it should have been done years ago. Having second home owners live near me who let family stay there also, have little respect for the people who live here all the time. How does the IOW council know who are second home owners? Do the people who buy properties ( second homes) have to declare it’s a second home, if so I bet a lot of them don’t?
Why does our wonderful council so hate the industry which brings most money into the Island and lso swells their coffers?
Absolutely brilliant long overdue
I wonder if double Council tax applies
to holiday chalets, eg chalets at Sandown
Bay Holiday Centre or Gurnard Pines to
name a few, or are they exempt from double
charges!