COUNCIL TAX FOR SECOND AND MOBILE HOMES

Motion Text

That this House notes that whilst second home owners enjoy a 50 per cent. council tax discount at an annual cost to the taxpayer of ú168 million, many thousands of disadvantaged permanent occupants of mobile homes pay a council tax for a property band up to four times their market value; considers that it is wrong that taxpayers should subsidise the better off to have their second homes whilst many thousands of local people cannot afford their first home; and believes that, in its forthcoming rural areas White Paper, the Government should at least abolish the discount for second homes and create a new council tax band for mobile home residents which more accurately reflects the true value of their property.