Second home owners face bigger council fines under ‘two-tier system'
Second home owners could be charged more than people who own one property for falling behind on their council tax bills, government documents suggest.
Angela Rayner, the Housing Secretary, has suggested capping penalties for homeowners with one residence, while dishing out bigger fines for those who fail to keep up with the new second homes premium.
Campaigners argue the introduction of a two-tier system would be a 'scandal' adding further financial strain on second home owners.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), run by Ms Rayner, has put its proposals out for public consultation, as it attempts to redraw the severity of fines issued to those in council tax arrears.
As it stands, taxpayers with outstanding debt face additional legal costs ranging from £35 to £172 to cover the fees paid by a council to obtain a liability order.
The Government said the discrepancies in charges between authorities are 'not fair', and therefore a cap on the total costs, which can be added to a bill, should be introduced.
It pointed towards an existing £70 cap in Wales, but in its public questionnaire, the MHCLG suggested second home owners could be treated differently.
The consultation states: 'The Government is interested in views on whether a cap on the liability costs should apply equally to all types of residential properties or whether, for example, it should not apply to empty and second homes which can attract council tax premiums.'
Respondents are then directly asked: 'Should the cap apply when seeking a liability order on second or empty homes?'
The suggested disparity between the treatment of second home owners and owners of a sole residence has sparked accusations of a two-tier legal system.
The vast majority of second home owners already face hefty council tax bills after more than 200 local authorities introduced double taxation in April.
Now they face the further threat of a legal fees premium, should the Government opt to exempt them from a fees cap.
John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'It would be a scandal if those who are forced to pay double the tax for the same or fewer services received fewer legal protections as a result.
'Whitehall needs to recognise the sudden financial difficulties that many residents will face as their properties become unaffordable.
'The premium on second homes is a disgrace of a policy which should never have been introduced in the first place.'
A host of second home owners have told The Telegraph of their worries over the affordability of the levy.
On average, a second home owner is now saddled with a £3,672 annual council tax bill, but in some cases, the fee surpasses £10,000. Telegraph Money is campaigning for the levy to be abolished.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government spokesman said: 'Our ambitious plans to improve the administration of council tax will deliver a fairer system for taxpayers while giving councils the tools to recover tax and deliver public services.
'We are currently exploring options on the best way to achieve this, and no final decisions have been made.'
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