[Brighton] Council imposing double council tax on second homes in Brighton & Hove.

Peteinblack · Jan 30, 2024

Every 'second home' is one less home available for someone else to buy.

How many people are 'forced' to rent because they cannot afford to buy, because: a) 'second homers' have reduced the number of homes available to buy, and forced up the price of those which do become available ; b) they are paying 50% of more of their salary on rent, so cannot save a deposit to buy.

We are currently paying £18 billion Housing Benefit to private landlords via tenants.

The housing market is completely screwed - yet suggest any limits on how many homes someone can own, and the usual suspects start screaming "Communism" - I thought the Right favoured widening home-ownership, rather than concentrating it in the hands of a few?

Hamilton · Jan 30, 2024

dazzer6666 said:
If Mid Sussex is representative, we already have a vast housebuilding strategy. Shame it doesn’t seem to include the supporting infrastructure

This is so true.

I’m a relatively new Hurst resident, and I’m not against housing being added to the existing conurbations around these villages. But, you have to provide better access to basic services. There’s housing going up with no thought as to schools or to how the supporting transport networks will service those areas.

For example, St Lawrence School in Hurst has a capacity of 630. There’s presently 616 kids there. That not leaving a lot of space for growth if families want to move into new homes.

And Hurst has had new housing added, and yet its bus service to Brighton is still only one every two hours.

House builders and government need to think ahead.

dazzer6666 · Jan 30, 2024

Hamilton said:
This is so true.

I’m a relatively new Hurst resident, and I’m not against housing being added to the existing conurbations around these villages. But, you have to provide better access to basic services. There’s housing going up with no thought as to schools or to how the supporting transport networks will service those areas.

For example, St Lawrence School in Hurst has a capacity of 630. There’s presently 616 kids there. That not leaving a lot of space for growth if families want to move into new homes.

And Hurst has had new housing added, and yet its bus service to Brighton is still only one every two hours.

House builders and government need to think ahead.

B Hill traffic is often borderline gridlocked at school times already……goodness knows what it’ll be like when the 000s of houses going up are occupied

Peteinblack · Jan 30, 2024

tigertim68 said:
What is wrong if you can afford to have 2 homes ,
what has it got to do with the council , or anybody else , too much interference with people’s rights by government and councils,
Brighton council is becoming more like a Russian state council

Greed? Selfishness?

It means fewer homes available for everyone else.

The comment about tackling second homes 'becoming like a Russian state' is as pathetic as it is predictable.

KZNSeagull · Jan 30, 2024

dazzer6666 said:
B Hill traffic is often borderline gridlocked at school times already……goodness knows what it’ll be like when the 000s of houses going up are occupied

Where are they building now in Buggs Hole? It must have pretty much joined up with HH by now

dazzer6666 · Jan 30, 2024

KZNSeagull said:
Where are they building now in Buggs Hole? It must have pretty much joined up with HH by now

Pretty much - Northern Arc (basically along Isaac’s Lane), plus around St Paul’s school - shaded grey below (longer term for example the golf course has already been sold off for housing as well). Loads planned for Ansty/Cuckfield as well.

Audax · Jan 30, 2024

Weststander said:
Councils decide these particular moves.

They do, but they do it within constraints imposed on them from central government.

dazzer6666 said:
If Mid Sussex is representative, we already have a vast housebuilding strategy. Shame it doesn’t seem to include the supporting infrastructure

Yup. Multiple new build areas around Uckfield but not much in the way of new infrastructure to go with it (indeed, one of the local primary schools has been closed).

clapham_gull said:
Changing the council tax rules with the existing houses (empty or second) is a very short solution and a lazy one.

Looks like the Welsh might have a better idea: reform the entire system:

Wales has been brave enough to completely rethink the hated council tax. Take note, England | Polly Toynbee

The Senedd’s plan to shift the burden of this levy away from those on lower incomes shows how real levelling up can work, says the Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

www.theguardian.com

dejavuatbtn · Jan 30, 2024

Hopefully it includes air b&bs - pain in the arse things they are.

S.T.U cgull · Jan 30, 2024

Hamilton said:
This is so true.

I’m a relatively new Hurst resident, and I’m not against housing being added to the existing conurbations around these villages. But, you have to provide better access to basic services. There’s housing going up with no thought as to schools or to how the supporting transport networks will service those areas.

For example, St Lawrence School in Hurst has a capacity of 630. There’s presently 616 kids there. That not leaving a lot of space for growth if families want to move into new homes.

And Hurst has had new housing added, and yet its bus service to Brighton is still only one every two hours.

House builders and government need to think ahead.

Ex St Lawrence pupil. Not aware of any class mates having bought in the village - all pushed out from a financial perspective I should think!

Nobby Cybergoat · Jan 30, 2024

Tax airbnb up the ass

Tax personal use second homes up the ass

Still tax landlords more than currently but not punitively. This tax should increase over time. Yes, I get some of this gets passed on to tenants, but ultimately property is valued too highly and not enough of it is available to the young. It's desirable to nudge landlords leave the market, free up stock and reduce house prices

Westdene Seagull · Jan 30, 2024

Peteinblack said:
Greed? Selfishness?

It means fewer homes available for everyone else.

I'm not sure why you think having a second home is "greed". I happen to have a second home - admittedly abroad - I could sell up and use the money for something else. Luxury cars, posh holidays, shares to increase the pot etc etc etc. Or I could just leave it in the bank doing nothing. How is it greed to have a second home ?

Certainly in some instances a second home means less available for everyone else but even if everyone with a second home sold it, it wouldn't bring down property prices.

Westdene Seagull · Jan 30, 2024

Nobby Cybergoat said:
Tax airbnb up the ass

Tax personal use second homes up the ass

Still tax landlords more than currently but not punitively. This tax should increase over time. Yes, I get some of this gets passed on to tenants, but ultimately property is valued too highly and not enough of it is available to the young. It's desirable to nudge landlords leave the market, free up stock and reduce house prices

Interesting theory. What about the people who can't get mortgages ( for whatever reason ) - where are they meant to live if there's no rental property ?

Nobby Cybergoat · Jan 30, 2024

Westdene Seagull said:
Interesting theory. What about the people who can't get mortgages ( for whatever reason ) - where are they meant to live if there's no rental property ?

Lower house prices will mean more people will qualify for mortgages.

I never said no rental property. But there is too much at the moment, which is artificially keeping house prices too high

Braggfan · Jan 30, 2024

Bodian said:
My Avenue has 14 houses in it. I moved here in 2003, and 12 of those houses were lived in. We had a great community spirit, with nights out and street gatherings and so on.

We're now down to 6.

My 'neighbours' have been moaning about the similar increase in council tax. But as they are only here for around 5-6 weeks of the year and add little to the community life - I just bite my tongue, rather than saying 'it should be even higher'.

And don't start me off on the two AirBnBs that are businesses, but don't pay business rates, and expect their rubbish and recycling to be dealt with as though it were domestic, and hopefully with kind neighbours putting it out for them.....

AirBnBs make my blood boil. My cousin has never lived in Brighton, but him and his wife are rich, and bought a second home in central Brighton. He rents it out as AirBnB and makes 40k a year doing it. Meanwhile those of us who have lived in Brighton all our lives can't afford to buy houses in our home town, and swiftly finding that the exorbitant rents being charged will probably soon be out of our range as well.

beorhthelm · Jan 30, 2024

Nobby Cybergoat said:
Lower house prices will mean more people will qualify for mortgages.

I never said no rental property. But there is too much at the moment, which is artificially keeping house prices too high

or, there is not enough rental, keeping rents high.

taxing Landlords out of renting certainly doesn't sound like it will have the effect you intend. some additional properties will become available buy, prices might come down a bit. there simply isnt enough housing stock in total in the south, which will only be solved by building more.

Nobby Cybergoat · Jan 30, 2024

beorhthelm said:
or, there is not enough rental, keeping rents high.

taxing Landlords out of renting certainly doesn't sound like it will have the effect you intend. some additional properties will become available buy, prices might come down a bit. there simply isnt enough housing stock in total in the south, which will only be solved by building more.

Again, I don't really see that the answer is to build more in the South East. Surely regenerating dilapidated towns in the north of England, creating jobs and amenities which stop young people deserting the moment they can is better policy than making the south east ever more desirable.

SUIYHP · Jan 30, 2024

It sounds less like it is aimed at landlords as much as it is targeting the rich Londoners who are pricing out younger Brightonians. There are so many younger adults who are leaving the city in their droves because they cant afford to live in their hometown anymore. This is surely a good thing to balance the playing field more? Plenty of NSCers must have kids who are moving to Worthing or Haywards Heath because Brighton’s too expensive?

deletebeepbeepbeep · Jan 30, 2024

Soon Brighton will become like Horsham / Mid Sussex with all young people including those with young families priced out to Shoreham, Worthing and beyond.

heathgate · Jan 30, 2024

Binney on acid said:
Just wondered what you thought of this. I'm all in favour of filling empty homes that would otherwise lie empty. However, penalising people like myself that were sufficiently prudent to purchase the property that they live in, whilst retaining ownership of their original property ? I've never exploited a tenant financially or otherwise, and always respond immediately to any maintenance problems that should arise.

The more money that you take from a family, the less disposable income they have, which obviously has a negative impact upon their lives, especially if they have young children. I think my last tenant resided there for 12 years. The initial rent was way below the market value, and remained that way, although I must have increased the rent by 15% during that time. If I end up paying another £150 a month, I might as well sell the flat. It's more hassle than it's worth. I'm just wondering what the council achieves here ?

That is going to be well received in most quarters,.... it should be a nationwide policy, Cornwall and Devon in particular will benefit from the extra council revenue.

Herr Tubthumper · Jan 30, 2024

beorhthelm said:
taxing Landlords out of renting certainly doesn't sound like it will have the effect you intend. some additional properties will become available buy, prices might come down a bit. there simply isnt enough housing stock in total in the south, which will only be solved by building more.

Or encouraging people to stay/move up north? It’s a serious point as many people gravitate to London and the south.

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