Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will provide a timeline for plans to allow local authorities to charge a council tax premium on second homes.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill is currently in its Committee stage in the House of Commons and contains a discretionary power for councils to apply a council tax premium of up to 100% on second homes. Subject to the conclusion of the passage of this bill, it will be for councils to decide whether to introduce a premium and, if so, when it should come into effect. In order to provide taxpayers with fair warning of increased liability, any determination to introduce a premium should be made at least one year prior to it coming into effect.