Better regulation of second and holiday homes – “would save public money and help locals in need”, says George.
Local MP Andrew George has secured a Commons debate on the regulation of holiday and second homes – taking place on Wednesday morning at 11am. Mr George has been a senior housing professional and has consistently campaigned for housing justice for over forty years.
He successfully led the parliamentary campaign to remove tax subsidies for second homes a quarter of a century ago and has highlighted the injustices of current tax loopholes which favour holiday homes. Andrew said:
“Proper regulation of second and holiday homes is not motivated by envy but a desire for justice. There is a golden opportunity for the government, in the lead up to an important budget, to create a more just system and to close the gaping tax loopholes which have been taken advantage of by wealthy property investors.
“It is far better that the billions which have been handed out to property investors are invested in first homes for those in housing need than in propping up property investors with their second/holiday homes. In the last decade, over £500 million of taxpayers money has been handed out through various tax loopholes to holiday home owners in Cornwall alone.
“Our campaign has met with some success already. We successfully forced the previous Conservative government to agree to create a register and better regulate holiday homes and to allow local authorities to increase council tax rates on second homes.
“However, there’s still more to be done. The proposed planning changes only go part way. There should be a planning use class for all non-permanent residential use. Local authorities should be able to control the numbers of both second and holiday homes, and to ensure that the housing stock operates primarily to meet local housing needs, not the needs of property investors.
“I look forward to raising these matters in this parliamentary debate on Wednesday, and to receiving a constructive reply from Ministers.”