Connect with us

Published

on

The Welsh Government is facing criticism over its scheme to charge second-home owners a council tax premium of up to 300%, with some warning it could turn tourist hotspots into “ghost towns”.

In April 2023 the amount councils in Wales could charge second-home owners rose to 300%, in a bid to free up housing stock for locals.

In addition, the number of nights holiday let owners must fill their properties to avoid the second home tax and be eligible for business rates rose from 70 to 182.

But holiday accommodation providers say the new threshold is pushing many out of business.

Gwion
Image:
Gwion Llwyd, represents around 200 holiday let owners in Wales

“We’ve got examples who are already realising that this is going to be a really hard target for them to achieve,” says Gwion Llwyd, who represents around 200 holiday let owners in Wales.

He says some are already selling up.

“They’re just going to give up and going to come out of the market unfortunately,” he added.

More from UK

“They’re going to take the kitchen out, rip the bathroom out so it doesn’t class as accommodation anymore, and give up on the business. So that barn will sit empty now and contribute nothing to the local economy.”

In part, holiday properties being sold because of the increased premium demonstrates the government’s plan is working.

But in the seaside resort of Abersoch, Gwynedd, the policy is causing anger.

Abersoch, Gwynedd
Image:
Abersoch, Gwynedd

Boat in Abersoch, Gwynedd

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

The area charges a 150% second home council tax premium, the highest rate in Wales.

For decades a playground for wealthy outsiders, more than 54% of properties in the village are either second homes or holiday lets, with most locals priced out.

The village is home to the most expensive street in Wales – where clifftop houses average more than £1.7m. On the beach below, a small boat shed is currently on the market for offers in excess of £250,000.

Nigel Jones runs a local shop and told Sky News the government’s council tax premium won’t do anything to increase affordable housing and only hit the local economy.

“They’re actually probably killing the market to be honest,” he said.

“It won’t do anyone any favours, it’ll just become a ghost town because the houses are so expensive here. I don’t think any local will ever be able to afford it. What Gwynedd [council] should do is build more houses for locals rather than tax the second homes so much.”

At the heart of the policy are local people unable to find somewhere affordable to live.

Gwion
Image:
Angharad Owen, from Anglesey, talks to Sky’s Dan Whitehead

Eyri National Park
Image:
Eryri National Park

Angharad Owen, from Anglesey, was forced to stay in a friend’s converted shed, before finally finding a property to rent in the small village of Brynrefail, near Snowdon.

She told Sky News that since the COVID-19 pandemic, the area has changed.

“There were a lot of people coming here wanting to buy a piece of paradise,” she said.

“I have seen a number of houses up for sale and snapped up very quickly – and I’ve been looking myself because I’d like to buy a place but the prices have been going up scarily.”

She says it is mainly Airbnbs popping up.

“I’ve had neighbours who I’ve got to know and then they’ve left and the properties have changed into Airbnbs,” she added.

“I’ve seen a lot of change in a very short amount of time. It changes the whole dynamic, you lose that sense of community.”

The Menai Bridge
Image:
The Menai Bridge

Read more:
Sales fall at major housebuilder but prices ‘remain resilient’

Reacting to concerns from holiday let owners, Rebecca Evans, the Welsh Government’s minister for finance and local government, told Sky News: “We think that for a business to benefit from small business rates relief it really should be operating as a business for half of the year.

“We do know some property owners may find that particularly difficult, so we have provided local authorities with the discretion to either not apply the premium or reduce council tax to nothing in cases where they think that’s the right thing to do.”

Ms Evans admitted the second home premium is not the complete solution to solving the housing crisis.

“It’s definitely the case that some of these properties are not going to be affordable for first time buyers or local families necessarily – that’s why it’s really important we have a much wider approach,” she said.

“Premiums on council tax aren’t going to solve all of our housing issues here in Wales, but what we are doing is investing tens of millions of pounds in purchasing empty homes for example, putting those up to standard and a whole range of other interventions as well.”

Elsewhere, Scotland is continuing to consult on plans to charge double council tax, while in England some councils, such as Cornwall, are planning a similar measure.

Continue Reading

UK

Lingering dread over what else about Prince Andrew could still emerge

Published

on

By

Lingering dread over what else about Prince Andrew could still emerge

Just a cursory glance at the headlines, and it’s clear the disgrace and downfall of Prince Andrew is not over.

So what next for the man and the monarchy?

The King might have hoped his involvement showed direct action had been taken.

He certainly does not want any distraction from his upcoming state visit to the Vatican.

But that might be wishful thinking.

Now the Met Police has been dragged in too. Forced to look into reports in the Mail on Sunday that Andrew asked his protection officer to smear his accuser, Virginia Giuffre.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Police ‘looking into’ Andrew claims

The prince allegedly wanted his officer “to dig up dirt” and told an aide at the palace what he had done.

More on Prince Andrew

Let’s be clear: back then, Andrew’s security was funded by the taxpayer.

So are we reaching the endgame, and what does that look like?

Andrew might have given up the use of his title, Duke of York, and other honours too.

Read more:
Call for Prince Andrew to ‘live in exile’

How Prince Andrew allegations unfolded
Everything we know about titles decision

But what about his style ‘prince’? Some want that ditched too.

It’s a complicated but not impossible process. Andrew could, of course, just stop using it voluntarily.

Some want him to give up his home, too. For a non-working royal, the stately Royal Lodge, with its plum position on the Windsor Estate, is an uncomfortable optic.

Andrew’s wider family is worried. The Sunday Times has reported that the Prince of Wales wants him cut off completely.

With the reputation of the monarchy at risk, William does not want to appear weak. He’s putting loyalty to “the firm” firmly above his familial relationships.

Prince Andrew has always strongly denied the allegations, and restated on Friday: “I vigorously deny the accusations against me”. Sky News has approached him for comment on the fresh allegations set out in the Mail on Sunday.

But with Virginia Giuffre’s tragic death and posthumous memoir due out on Tuesday, Buckingham Palace will be braced for more scandal.

When Andrew gave up his titles, there was certainly a sense of relief.

There is now a sense of dread over what else could emerge.

Continue Reading

UK

Why Andrew hasn’t given up being a prince – amid call for him to ‘live in exile’

Published

on

By

Why Andrew hasn't given up being a prince - amid call for him to 'live in exile'

Sky News’ royal commentator has explained why Prince Andrew has not given up being called a prince – while another expert has said “the decent thing” for him to do would be “go into exile” overseas.

Andrew announced on Friday that he would stop using his Duke of York title and relinquish all other honours, including his role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

However, he will continue to be known as a prince.

Royal commentator Alastair Bruce said that while Andrew’s other honours and titles were conferred to him later in life, he became a prince when he was born to Elizabeth II while she was queen.

He told presenter Kamali Melbourne: “I think […] that style was quite special to the late Queen,” he said. “And perhaps the King, for the moment, thinks that can be left alone.

“It’s a matter really for the King, for the royal household, perhaps with the guidance and advice of government, which I’m sure they are taking.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Who pushed Andrew to drop his titles?

Since Andrew’s announcement, there has been speculation over whether any further measures will be taken – and one author has now called for him to “go into exile”.

More on Prince Andrew

Andrew Lownie, author of The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York, said: “The only way the story will go away is if he leaves Royal Lodge, goes into exile abroad with his ex-wife, and is basically stripped of all his honours, including Prince Andrew.”

Royal Lodge is the Windsor mansion Andrew lives in with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who has also lost her Duchess of York title.

Andrew and his former wife continue to live on the Windsor estate. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Andrew and his former wife continue to live on the Windsor estate. Pic: Reuters

Mr Lownie continued: “He makes out he’s an honourable man and he’s putting country and family first. Well, if he is, then the optics look terrible for the monarchy. A non-working royal in a 30-room Crown Estate property with a peppercorn rent.

“He should do the decent thing and go. And frankly, he should go into exile.”

Mr Lownie added if the Royal Family “genuinely want to cut links, they have to put pressure on him to voluntarily get out”.

Read more from Sky News:
How Prince Andrew allegations unfolded
William and Camilla’s influential roles

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Windsor’s take on Prince Andrew

Andrew’s decision to stop using his titles was announced amid renewed scrutiny of his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and fresh stories linked to the late Virginia Giuffre.

Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, alleged she was sexually assaulted by Andrew on three occasions – which he has always vigorously denied.

The former duke paid to settle a civil sexual assault case with Ms Giuffre in 2022, despite insisting he had never met her.

Continue Reading

UK

Families whose loved ones took their lives after buying poison online write to PM

Published

on

By

Families whose loved ones took their lives after buying poison online write to PM

Bereaved families whose loved ones took their own lives after buying the same poison online have written to the prime minister demanding urgent action.

Warning: This article contains references to suicide

The group claims there have been “multiple missed opportunities” to shut down online forums that promote suicide and dangerous substances.

They warn that over 100 people have died after purchasing a particular poison in the last 10 years.

Among those who have written to Downing Street is Pete Aitken, whose daughter Hannah was 22 when she took her own life after buying the poison from a website.

Hannah was autistic and had ADHD. She was treated in six different mental health hospitals over a four-year period.

Mr Aitken recently spoke to Sky News around the second anniversary of Hannah’s death.

More on Mental Health

He said: “Autistic people seem to be most vulnerable to this kind of sort of poison and, you know, wanting to take their lives.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Pete Aitken speaking to Sky News

Sky News is not naming the poison, but Hannah was able to buy a kilogram of it online. Just one gram is potentially fatal.

“There’s this disparity between the concentration required for its legitimate use and that required for ending your life. And it seems quite clear you could make a distinction,” Mr Aitken said.

Analysis from the Molly Rose Foundation and the group Families and Survivors to Prevent Online Suicide Harms says at least 133 people have died because of the poison. It also says coroners have written warnings about the substance on 65 separate occasions.

The report accuses the Home Office of failing to strengthen the regulation of the poison and says not enough is being done to close dangerous suicide forums online.

Lawyers representing the group want a public inquiry into the deaths.

In a joint letter to the prime minister, the families said: “We write as families whose loved ones were let down by a state that was too slow to respond to the threat.

“This series of failings requires a statutory response, not just to understand why our loved ones died but also to prevent more lives being lost in a similar way.”

Read more from Sky News:
Blood test for more than 50 cancers ‘could transform outcomes’

Warning of six million new cancer cases – with these areas worst hit
Hospital accused of ‘covering up’ concerns about suspended surgeon

The group’s lawyer, Merry Varney, from Leigh Day, said: “The government is rightly committed to preventing deaths through suicide, yet despite repeated warnings of the risks posed by an easily accessible substance, fatal in small quantities and essentially advertised on online forums, no meaningful steps have been taken.”

Hannah's dad is one of the family members to have signed the letter
Image:
Hannah’s dad is one of the family members to have signed the letter

A government spokesperson said: “Suicide devastates families and we are unequivocal about the responsibilities online services have to keep people safe on their platforms.

“Under the Online Safety Act, services must take action to prevent users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content and ensure children are protected from harmful content that promotes it.

“If they fail to do so, they can expect to face robust enforcement, including substantial fines.”

They added that the position is “closely monitored and reportable under the Poisons Act, meaning retailers must alert authorities if they suspect it is being bought to cause harm”.

“We will continue to keep dangerous substances under review to ensure the right safeguards are in place,” they said.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

Continue Reading

Trending