GMB calls for levy tax on underused holiday homes

This follows the publication of the 2011 Census returns which showed that there were a total of 173,276 residents with a holiday home in one of the 12 regions of the UK. At the time of the 2011 Census, 165,095 residents had a holiday home within England & Wales that was for holiday use. There were also 8,181 residents with a second holiday address in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

In the South West region there were a total of 40,030 residents with a holiday home in the region. This was the highest number for any region in the UK. Of these 31,849 normally live outside the region. Next for the total number of residents with a holiday home in the region was Wales with 28,590, followed by South East with 25,710, Eastern with 20,090, Yorkshire and The Humber with 14,515, North West with 14,275, East Midlands with 8,088, West Midlands with 5,040, London with 4,660, and North East with 4,097.   

Paul Kenny, GMB Regional Secretary, said: “A holiday home that is used only a few weeks a year at a time when there are families in bed and breakfast accommodation gives rise to fundamental questions on the role and power of the local authority on the use of residential property in its area. GMB consider that, under the Localism Act, local councils should have the power to levy taxation on underused holiday homes and other empty properties.”