Plans to introduce a 100 percent council tax premium on second homes in North Yorkshire have been backed by the Council's executive.
The measure could be introduce in April 2025 if it gets full council backing next month.
The exec also approved a potential 300 percent premium on empty properties.
The council's Revenues Head of Service - Sherri Williamson - says the measures could generate significant income, which could be used to help build affordable homes.
Empty Homes in North Yorkshire could be subject to a 300 percent council tax premium from April and second homes could see a 100 percent premium from next year.
The measures have been backed by the council's executive committee as part of a move to tackle housing pressures in the county.
Danby and Mulgrave Councillor - David Chance - says the Yorkshire Coast has a particular problem with second homes.
Upper Dales councillor Yvonne Peacock said she was hopeful the premium would discourage some potential second homeowners from buying properties in areas such as national parks, thereby easing demand and making homes more affordable for young people.
Labour councillor for Scarborough, Eric Broadbent, told the meeting the volume of accommodation in the resort and Harrogate in particular was “desperate”, with waiting lists of 2,000 in both of the towns.
Executive member for housing, Councillor Simon Myers, said the administration had “a real commitment to bettering the lot of those who need to go into temporary accommodation” and that it would be an area the authority would look to invest in.
He said he had been shocked by the lack of provision created by the county’s former district councils over homeless shelters and that funds raised from the second homes premium would be ploughed into rectifying housing issues.
Critics of the move have claimed the premium could even lead to council tax receipts falling as second home owners could simply transfer the property to being a holiday cottage business or swap the named owner’s details for someone who does not own property.
Deputy leader of the authority, Councillor Gareth Dadd, said:
“I know it hasn’t found favour with some second homeowners, but nonetheless we still have a problem with second homeownership or the effects of second homeownership, and this seeks to mitigate against that either by changing behaviour or providing us with some funding to alleviate some of the unintended consequences.”
The meeting heard funding from the increase in charges for empty properties would raise up to £2.2m a year, while second homes would raise up to £16.5m annually.
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