The UK government has recently announced that the council tax freeze, which was introduced to help households during the coronavirus pandemic, will not apply to unoccupied buy-to-lets or second homes. This means that landlords and owners of second homes will have to pay the full amount of council tax on their properties.
The council tax freeze was introduced in March 2020 as part of the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. It was designed to help households by freezing their council tax bills for a year, meaning they would not have to pay any extra money. However, this freeze did not apply to unoccupied buy-to-lets or second homes.
The government has now confirmed that the council tax freeze will not be extended to these properties, meaning landlords and owners of second homes will have to pay the full amount of council tax on their properties. This is despite the fact that many landlords and owners of second homes have been affected by the economic impact of the pandemic, with some facing financial difficulties due to reduced rental income or increased costs.
The government has said that it is not possible to extend the council tax freeze to unoccupied buy-to-lets or second homes as this would be too costly and could lead to an increase in council tax bills for other households. It has also argued that it would be unfair to extend the freeze to these properties as they are not primary residences and are not subject to the same restrictions as other households.
The decision not to extend the council tax freeze to unoccupied buy-to-lets or second homes has been criticised by some, who argue that it is unfair and could put additional financial strain on those who own these properties. However, the government has defended its decision, arguing that it is necessary to ensure that council tax bills remain fair and affordable for all households.
Overall, the government’s decision not to extend the council tax freeze to unoccupied buy-to-lets or second homes has been met with mixed reactions. While some have criticised the decision, others have argued that it is necessary in order to ensure that council tax bills remain fair and affordable for all households.