FOI request (FOIR-702209230)

Second Homes

Requested Wed 02 April 2025
Responded Mon 28 April 2025

This is an information request relating to council tax on second homes.

Please include the following information:

1. Second Home Premium

Does the council currently charge a premium on second homes?

If so, what is the rate of the premium (expressed as a percentage or multiplier of the standard council tax rate)?

2. Impact Assessment

Has the council undertaken any impact assessment(s) on the effect of the second home premium on the local economy?

If so, please provide a copy of the assessment(s).

3. Definition of a Second Home

How does the council define a second home for council tax purposes?

4. Disputes

Have any households challenged the classification of their property as a second home?

If yes, how many such disputes have there been, and how many resulted in a change of status?

Response

1. 100%

2. We have a Policy for Long Term Empty and Second Homes, which I have attached. No information is held in respect of an impact assessment.

3. Empty Furnished, and Furnished Second Homes.

4. Information not held. However, we can provide how many we had at annual billing and how many we have as at today's date; We started with 734 now have 662 from the original amount.

Attachments

• FOIR-702209230_FOIR-702209230_1-Hastings_Council_Tax_Empty_Homes_&_Second_Homes_Premiums_Policy_2025.pdf