Second Home Shocker: Tax Could Make Owners Sell Up and Leave Dorset for Good!

Residents in Dorset are up in arms after the government proposed doubling the council tax on second homes. While some say they'll do what it takes to avoid the extra cost, others are vowing to sell up and say goodbye to the county for good, according to local councillors.

But this controversial tax hike could lead to even more problems, with fears that some second home owners might try to dodge the extra charge by registering their properties as businesses and renting them out on platforms like Airbnb.

And despite the council potentially raking in an extra £9.5 million from the 5,700 second homes in the county, Dorset's deputy council leader, Cllr Peter Wharf, says he's skeptical that they'll ever see the full amount. Many owners will likely hire lawyers and accountants to find legal loopholes to dodge the tax.

"Second homes are a privilege, but for some, they're more of a burden than a blessing," says Cllr Sherry Jespersen. With 3,700 people in Dorset in need of a home and house prices 11 times the average local wage, she says it's only fair to ask second homeowners to contribute a little extra.

But while the extra revenue might be welcome news to council taxpayers, it could have unintended consequences, warns Cllr Wharf, sharing the story of one community where retired judges were a dime a dozen but plumbers, care workers, and teachers were scarce.

And with local shops, pubs, and even schools at risk of closing due to the high number of second homes, many councillors support the tax hike, including Cllr Val Pothecary who says it's an opportunity to "redress the balance."

A final decision on the proposed changes will be made at a Cabinet meeting on February 28th and a Full Council meeting at the end of March. But with the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill set to receive Royal Assent by April 1st, 2023, the clock is ticking for Dorset's second homeowners.