The 38 areas where second-home owners could still see their bills double

When English councils were allowed to start charging a council tax premium on second homes [1] in April last year, around a quarter of them chose not to adopt it. But a year on, most of them have changed their minds -- and the charge has quietly become the norm across the country [2]. Around 170,000 second-home owners were charged extra council tax [3] in the first year the powers came into effect, and that figure only looks set to rise [4].

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(FILES) In this file photo taken on April 01, 2023 estate agents rental boards advertising properties to let are pictured outside a row of Victorian terraced houses in Lavender Hill, in south London. - Renters in London are feeling the squeeze of Britain's cost-of-living crisis, as landlords hit by mortgage increases due to interest rate rises pass on higher costs to their tenants, pushing up prices to record levels. (Photo by Susannah Ireland / AFP) (Photo by SUSANNAH IRELAND/AFP via Getty Images)

According to the estate agent Hamptons, landlords in the UK are now paying 40% more in interest payments than last year (Photo: Susannah Ireland/AFP via Getty Images)

HOUSING

What the Renters' Rights Act means for tenants and landlords

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 will introduce new rules for private landlords and give tenants new rights from 1 May, 2026. The Government said the new legislation will will improve the current system for both the 11 million private renters and 2.3 million landlords in England.

What will the new legislation mean for renters?

The Act will give renters much greater security and stability so they can stay in their homes for longer, build lives in their communities and avoid the risk of homelessness, the Government said.

The Renters' Reform Act is coming into effect this Friday(Alicia G. Monedero/Getty Images/ iStockphoto)

Newsletter (?)

7 min read

The measures to protect tenants

The new rules apply automatically, regardless of whether or not an individual's tenancy agreement is updated in writing by their landlord.

After 1 May, 2026, it will not be possible for assured tenancy agreements to have a fixed term or a set end date.
All tenancies will become rolling tenancies.
Landlords will no longer be able to use rent review clauses for new rent increases.
Renters have the right to request to keep a pet.
Rent can only be raised once a year, and no higher than open market rent.
Landlords will need a legal reason to evict tenants.
Renters will be able to end their tenancy at any point as long as they give at least two months' notice in writing.

MONEY

The pension plan that could leave you short of cash in retirement

Emily Braeger

Money Reporter Rising living costs, longer life expectancies and uncertainty around future care needs are changing. An increasingly popular idea, the so-called "U-shaped" retirement, is gaining traction, but financial experts warn that relying on it too heavily could leave retirees exposed.

What is a 'U-shaped retirement'?

The theory behind the "U-shaped retirement" is that spending tends to be highest in the years immediately after you finish working, before dipping and rising again later, often due to health or care costs.

Pensions are one of the most tax-efficient ways to save for retirement(Aitor Diago/Getty Images/ Moment RF/AITOR DIAGO Couple dropping coins into a white piggy bank, planning household savings and budgeting together for future security and retirement

Couple dropping coins into a white piggy bank, planning household savings and budgeting together for future security and retirement

Cash ISA rules are changing next year (Photo: LordHenriVoton/E+/Miljan Lakic/Getty)

This broadly aligns with what planners see in practice; the early years, sometimes called the "go-go" phase, are when fit and active retirees travel, pursue hobbies and even help family members financially.

Potential downsides

However, it is hard to predict how long you'll live and how quickly your health may change.
Equally, over-spending in the "go-go" years could backfire if your retirement lasts several decades.
Inflation and policy changes can derail even the best-set plans, and so can any unexpected costs.
There is also no guarantee that your spending will dip as the U-shape model relies upon.

Agony Uncle

5 min read

The top takeaway

Perhaps the most important takeaway is that retirement planning should not be rigid. Instead, experts stress the need for adaptability.

Good retirement planning is less about fitting clients into a predefined curve and more about building a flexible, resilient strategy that can adapt over time.

Newsletter (?)

5 min read

OPINION

3 min read

Concept of personal finance, budgeting, expense tracking, digital payments and financial planning.

You do not need to have it all figured out but you do need to start (Photo: Olha Danylenko/ Getty)

MONEY

How disposable income varies across the UK

There is disparity between UK cities in the level of disposable income that people have left over at the end of each month, new analysis has revealed.

The average Brit's monthly wallet

According to MoneySuperMarket's household money index, the average Briton spends ?1,477.50 a month on bills and expenses, up ?22.50 since the start of 2026. However, the average person's disposable income has also risen by ?86.41 since the year began, up to ?802.33 a month.

MONEY

3 min read

SAVING AND BANKING

5 min read

Geographical disparity

Meanwhile, city-to-city disparity in exactly how much money people have left over every month is based on the percentage of income spent on bills and expenses, rather than the actual cash amount in outgoings.

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MAY 03: A general view of teh Brighton Ferris Wheel and visitors to the beach on May 3, 2013 in Brighton, England. Southern England has enjoyed some warm and sunny weather today and it is set to continue throughout the bank-holiday weekend. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)

Caption: BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MAY 03: A general view of teh Brighton Ferris Wheel and visitors to the beach on May 3, 2013 in Brighton, England. Southern England has enjoyed some warm and sunny weather today and it is set to continue throughout the bank-holiday weekend. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)Photographer: Jordan MansfieldProvider: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images EuropeCopyright: 2013 Jordan Mansfield

People in Brighton, for example, spend the highest proportion of their income on bills and expenses (75.2 per cent, amounting to ?1,567.18 a month on average) and have the least disposable cash remaining, at ?516.57.

UK cities with least disposable income

2Edinburgh is next, with 70.2 per cent of income (?1,489.91) going to expenses and ?632.34 left over.
3Southampton follows for income spent on outgoings (68.7 per cent, ?1,479.36), with ?672.64 left.
4In Norwich, 65 per cent of income (?1,300.68) goes on expenses, with ?688.99 in spare cash.
5And Birmingham has the fourth-lowest disposable income on average, at ?697.03

UK cities with most disposal income

Sundays on the Maritime Mile, Belfast Provided by Jenna.Crymble@maritimebelfast.com

Caption:Sundays on the Maritime Mile, BelfastProvided by [email protected]: Makenzie-Ray Taylor

Low spend, high cash

In Belfast, just 59.5 per cent of income is spent on outgoings, with a UK-high ?954.66 left over.

London

Londoners have ?1,669.86 outgoings - but that's 63.9 per cent of average monthly income, with ?943.89 left over.

(FILES) An aerial view shows snow-covered offices and buildings including the Shard skyscraper, as a boat passes under Tower Bridge on the River Thames, from Wapping, east London on December 12, 2022. Australian-born private equity entrepreneur Angus Murray has submitted the proposal to transform the history-rich yet little-known Kingsway Exchange Tunnels into a major tourist attraction. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)

London's reputation as a magnet for millionaires is in jeopardy as thousands flee to other countries a new report claims (Photo: Daniel Leal/ AFP) Glasgow

Glasgow University looms over the West End (Photo: PAUL WATT)

Glasgow

In Glasgow, an average of ?857.62 is left over after ?1,413.63 (62.2 per cent of income) goes on expenses.

Caption: EMBARGOED TO 1300 THURSDAY APRIL 30

Undated CGI artist impression issued by Colossal Biosciences of a bluebuck.

Texas company Colossal Biosciences announced on Thursday its researchers were using genetic technology to bring back the bluebuck, the first large African mammal to go extinct in modern history. The bluebuck, an antelope once native to southern Africa, was known for its unique silvery-blue coat and curved horns. It was hunted to extinction around 1800 during the European colonial settlement of the Cape, just decades after it was first recorded by scientists.

Issue date: Thursday April 30, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Colossal Biosciences/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption.

Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.Photographer: Colossal BiosciencesProvider: Colossal Biosciences/PA WireSource: PA

SCIENCE

Could the bluebuck return from extinction?

Researchers are using genetic technology to bring back from extinction a blue species of antelope that died out around 200 years ago, Texas company Colossal Biosciences announced this week. Here is everything we know.

Hunted to extinction

The bluebuck, an antelope once native to southern Africa, was known for its unique silvery-blue coat and curved horns, which could reach two feet in length.

Caption: EMBARGOED TO 1300 THURSDAY APRIL 30

Undated CGI artist impression issued by Colossal Biosciences of a bluebuck. Texas company Colossal Biosciences announced on Thursday its researchers were using genetic technology to bring back the bluebuck, the first large African mammal to go extinct in modern history.

The bluebuck, an antelope once native to southern Africa, was known for its unique silvery-blue coat and curved horns. It was hunted to extinction around 1800 during the European colonial settlement of the Cape, just decades after it was first recorded by scientists. Issue date: Thursday April 30, 2026.

PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Colossal Biosciences/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.Photographer: Colossal BiosciencesProvider: Colossal Biosciences/PA WireSource: PA

A general view of antelopes in the Comoe National Park, northeastern Ivory Coast, on October 13, 2025./ppLeft abandoned and ravaged throughout the political and military crisis that plunged Ivory Coast into chaos from 2002 to 2011, Comoe National Park is slowly coming back to life in this region now under the control of the authorities, but remains threatened by human exploitation. With nearly 1.14 million hectares (11,500 km??), Comoe National Park, named after the river that flows through it for 230 km from west to east, is one of the largest parks in West Africa. Thanks to its exceptional biodiversity, the reserve, created in 1926 and designated a national park in 1968, has long rivaled the most beautiful parks on the African continent. (Photo by Issouf SANOGO / AFP) (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)

Caption: A general view of antelopes in the Comoe National Park, northeastern Ivory Coast, on October 13, 2025.

Left abandoned and ravaged throughout the political and military crisis that plunged Ivory Coast into chaos from 2002 to 2011, Comoe National Park is slowly coming back to life in this region now under the control of the authorities, but remains threatened by human exploitation. With nearly 1.14 million hectares (11,500 km??), Comoe National Park, named after the river that flows through it for 230 km from west to east, is one of the largest parks in West Africa. Thanks to its exceptional biodiversity, the reserve, created in 1926 and designated a national park in 1968, has long rivaled the most beautiful parks on the African continent. (Photo by Issouf SANOGO / AFP) (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)Photographer: ISSOUF SANOGOProvider: AFP via Getty ImagesSource: AFPCopyright: AFP or licensors

It became the first large African mammal to go extinct in modern history, due to hunting around 1800 - during European colonial settlement of the Cape - just decades after it was first recorded by scientists.

'Pivotal' step in 'de-extinction' programme

Efforts to bring the bluebuck back form part of Colossal's broader "de-extinction" programme, aiming to revive species like the dire wolf, the woolly mammoth and the dodo.

The bluebuck is the sixth species added to that list and the first focused on antelopes, marking what the company called a "pivotal step" to help "protect entire ecosystems".

WORLD

3 min read

NEWS

3 min read

The de-extinction process

Researchers first took cells from the roan antelope, a close relative.
These are genetically modified to introduce preserved bluebuck DNA.
The aim is to create embryos that surrogate animals could carry.
Breeding technology may also support wider conservation efforts.

NEWS

5 min read

The long-term goal

The goal is to rewild bluebucks in South Africa's renosterveld habitat.
But there is no timeline yet for when a living bluebuck may be produced.
Of the world's 90 antelope species, 29 are at risk of extinction.
Colossal says its project's findings could also protect those animals.

Big Read

6 min read

EMBARGOED TO 2230 SATURDAY APRIL 4 File photo dated 20/08/24 of a view of bank notes. More than 12 million people will see their state pension increase by up to ?575 under the triple-lock guarantee. In line with average earnings growth, the rate will rise by 4.8% from Monday, the Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed./ppIssue date: Saturday April 4, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

Caption: EMBARGOED TO 2230 SATURDAY APRIL 4File photo dated 20/08/24 of a view of bank notes.

More than 12 million people will see their state pension increase by up to ?575 under the triple-lock guarantee. In line with average earnings growth, the rate will rise by 4.8% from Monday, the Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed. Issue date: Saturday April 4, 2026.

PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Gareth Fuller/PA WirePhotographer: Gareth FullerProvider: Gareth Fuller/PA WireSource: PA

MONEY

The new plan for state pension reform

The current state pension is "outdated, increasingly unaffordable and too rigid for the way people live and work" and should therefore be replaced by a new fund which could pay out early, it has been suggested.

Triple lock equals big spending

The triple lock means funding of the state pension is one of the biggest areas of government expenditure, at about ?146bn a year - equivalent to 5 per cent of GDP. However, scrapping the triple lock is seen as a vote-loser and it has been backed through at least the end of this Parliament by all main UK political parties except the Greens.

Exclusive

3 min read

PENSIONS AND RETIREMENT

4 min read

'Outdated' state pension is 'too rigid'

Pensions reform is unavoidable due to the UK's ageing population, argues a new report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), which says the triple lock should be scrapped by 2030.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair listens to Uruguay's President Yamandu Orsi (out of frame) during a meeting at the Torre Ejecutiva (Executive Tower), the government's headquarters, in Montevideo on October 22, 2025. (Photo by Dante FERNANDEZ / AFP) (Photo by DANTE FERNANDEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Tony Blair's involvement is controversial due to his role in the Iraq war and the history of British imperialism in the Middle East (Photo: Dante Fernandez/AFP)

FILE PHOTO: British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves poses outside 11 Downing Street ahead of presenting the Spring Forecast to Parliament, in London, Britain, March 3, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

Caption: FILE PHOTO: British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves poses outside 11 Downing Street ahead of presenting the Spring Forecast to Parliament, in London, Britain, March 3, 2026.

REUTERS/Toby Melville/File PhotoPhotographer: Toby MelvilleProvider: REUTERSSource: REUTERS

The former Labour prime minister's think-tank proposes that state pension increases should instead be linked only to rises in earnings, with the current system eventually replaced by a new "Lifespan Fund".

Why the TBI says reform is needed

Without reform, the TBI says the outlay will rise to...

7.8% of GDP spent on the state pension by 2070, an extra ?85bn a year in today's terms.

This is due to a projected increase in the number of pensioners from 12.6m to 19m.

5.5% of GDP is around the level the TBI's proposed reforms would keep state pension spending. This would save the Government some ?66bn in additional costs by 2070.

The 'Lifespan Fund' proposal

This fund could be accessed early, not just for retirement
Reasons could include ill health, career changes or caring roles.
Entitlement would be built through activities like work, caring or study.
Safeguards for early access include minimum balances rising with age.

POLITICS

5 min read

OPINION

What our experts think of the new state pension plan

While the Tony Blair Institute's plan is independent of the Government, it does raise an important question about the sustainability of our current pension system and if it is still fit for purpose.

So, should the state pension be replaced? Our experts have shared their perspectives.

Missing Oscar found after winner blocked from taking it on flight

Pavel Talankin claims he was forced to check in his golden Oscar statuette at a New York airport. It later went missing.

Here's what we know about the incident - and the mission tofind it.

A large Oscar statue ahead of an event for the announcement of the nominees for the 98th Academy Awards, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., January 22, 2026. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Caption: A large Oscar statue ahead of an event for the announcement of the nominees for the 98th Academy Awards, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., January 22, 2026. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniPhotographer: Mario AnzuoniProvider: REUTERSSource: REUTERS

Multi-award-winning documentary

In March, Talankin won Best Feature Documentary at the Oscars with Mr Nobody Against Putin, showcasing war propaganda at a Russian school where he worked after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Caption: US film director David Borenstein and Russian Director Pavel Talankin (R) pose with the award for Best documentary for "Mr. Nobody Against Putin" during the BAFTA British Academy Film Awards ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, in London, on February 22, 2026. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images)Photographer: JUSTIN TALLISProvider: AFP via Getty ImagesSource: AFPCopyright: AFP or licensors

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: (L-R) David Borenstein, Helle Faber and Pavel Talankin, winners of the Best Documentary Feature Film Award for ???Mr./ppNobody Against Putin???, attend the 98th Oscars Governors Ball at Ovation Hollywood Complex on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)

Caption: HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: (L-R) David Borenstein, Helle Faber and Pavel Talankin, winners of the Best Documentary Feature Film Award for ???Mr. Nobody Against Putin???, attend the 98th Oscars Governors Ball at Ovation Hollywood Complex on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)Photographer: Arturo HolmesProvider: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images North AmericaCopyright: 2026 Getty Images

The BBC-backed piece also won its 35-year-old protagonist and co-director a Bafta earlier this year. He has reportedly traveled often since then, showcasing both awards at events and screenings.

Dispute at the airport

Caption: TOPSHOT - Russian teacher Pavel Talankin hoists his Oscar for Best Documentary Feature Film for "Mr. Nobody Against Putin" at the 98th Annual Academy Awards Governors Ball at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 15, 2026. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images)Photographer: ANGELA WEISSProvider: AFP via Getty ImagesSource: AFP

Frequent flyer

Talankin had faced no prior issues bringing his Oscar aboard US or international flights.

Trouble in NY

But he was stopped when trying to board a flight from New York to Germany on Wednesday.

FILE - An Oscar statue appears outside the Dolby Theatre for the 87th Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb./pp21, 2015. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)

Caption: FILE - An Oscar statue appears outside the Dolby Theatre for the 87th Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb.

21, 2015. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)Photographer: Matt SaylesProvider: Matt Sayles/Invision/APSource: InvisionCaption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 27: A TSA agent walks past travelers as they wait in line to enter security in Terminal 8 at John F. Kennedy International Airport on March 27, 2026 in New York, New York. The Senate unanimously approved funding for the Department of Homeland Security, excluding money for immigration enforcement and deportation operations.

The agreement came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would sign an order to immediately pay Transportation Security Administration officers. Travel disruptions continue as hundreds of TSA agents quit or worked without pay during the partial government shutdown. (Photo by Michael M.

Santiago/Getty Images)Photographer: Michael M. SantiagoProvider: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images North AmericaCopyright: 2026 Getty Images

A makeshift 'weapon'

Airport security at JFK International allegedly said his award could be used as a weapon.

Lost in transit?

Talankin only had carry-on luggage with him, so Lufthansa airlines provided a "flimsy" cardboard box in place of checked bag to put the award in, packaging it with tape and bubble wrap. But when Talankin arrived in Germany, he discovered that his statuette, which reportedly costs up to £1,000 (?733) to make, had vanished.

David Borenstein, from left, Al??b??ta Kar??skov??, Radovan S??brt, Pavel Talankin, center left, Robin Hessman, center right, Helle Faber accept the award for documentary feature film for

Caption: David Borenstein, from left, Al??b??ta Kar??skov??, Radovan S??brt, Pavel Talankin, center left, Robin Hessman, center right, Helle Faber accept the award for documentary feature film for "Mr. Nobody against Putin" during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)Photographer: Chris PizzelloProvider: Chris Pizzello/Invision/APSource: Invision

Pavel Talankin at the International Political Film Festival in Carcassonne in the south-west of France on January 17, 2026. Pavel Talankin au Festival international du film politique de Carcassonne dans le sud-ouest de la France le 17? janvier?/pp2026. (Photo by Felice Rosa / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images)

Caption: Pavel Talankin at the International Political Film Festival in Carcassonne in the south-west of France on January 17, 2026. Pavel Talankin au Festival international du film politique de Carcassonne dans le sud-ouest de la France le 17? janvier?

2026. (Photo by Felice Rosa / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images)Photographer: FELICE ROSAProvider: Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty ImagesSource: AFPCopyright: Felice Rosa / Hans Lucas

Oscar located!

Luckily, Lufthansa said on Friday that it had located the statue and was keeping it "in our care" in Frankfurt while working to arrange its swift return to Talankin. The airline said it had "apologised to the owner" and that an internal review was ongoing.

The US Transportation Security Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

FILM

3 min read

FILM

6 min read

Analysis by The i Paper reveals that 85 per cent of councils have already adopted the premium, with many more planning to levy it in the coming years. Thirty-eight councils are yet to introduce it, leaving homeowners in limbo as they wait to find out whether their bills could increase. For many with second properties in these areas, the question is no longer if their bills will double -- but when.

What is the second-homes premium?

The second-homes premium was devised by the Conservative government in 2023, giving councils the power to charge double the normal rate of council tax on second homes.

Michael Gove, the levelling up secretary at the time, justified the policy by saying he wanted to end the "scourge" of empty or underused properties and "bring life back" to communities. Under the council tax system, a second home is classified as one that has no regular resident, is "occupied periodically" and is "substantially furnished". The second-homes premium is an extra tax is separate from another premium charged on empty homes, which applies to properties that are "unoccupied and substantially unfurnished".

The 2025-26 financial year was the first when councils were able to apply the second-homes premium, and many opted to levy it. Around 72 per cent of English councils began charging the tax from April 2025, with the proportion rising to 84 per cent in April 2026. By April 2027, analysis by The i Paper shows that 87 per cent of councils will be charging it, and there are signs that more parts of England could follow.

Not all second homes are necessarily charged the premium - exemptions include properties being marketed for sale or rent, or those provided by employers for work-related housing. Wales operates a similar system to England, though its councils are allowed to charge up to four times the council tax on second homes. Scotland, meanwhile, has no cap, which has led Midlothian Council to charge six times the normal council tax rate on second homes as of April 2026.

Which councils have just begun charging the premium?

While the majority of councils began levying the charge in April 2025, 36 have brought the premium in this year.

This included Kensington and Chelsea, which has around 7,898 second homes, according to figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Around 9 per cent of properties in the borough are classed as second homes, the fourth highest proportion of any council in England after City of London, North Norfolk and Isle of Scilly, all of which brought in the premium in 2025. Kensington and Chelsea Council had initially resisted bringing in the charge, but officials said last year that they had "reluctantly" decided to levy it after changes to government funding left it with an ?82m shortfall.

The council's draft budget papers for 2025-26 stated: "Given the financial position the Government's funding cuts have put the council in, we are now also reluctantly considering charging a council tax premium on second homes within the borough." At the other end of the scale is Tamworth, which began charging the premium this year despite only hosting six properties classed as second homes, the owners of which have been charged.

Why are some councils refusing to bring it in?

Despite the majority of English councils adopting the charge, some have decided against it - for now. One authority that has opted against it is East Hampshire.

Official documents show councillors made the call as they were concerned about the "potential impact on investment in the district" if the premium were introduced. Hinckley and Bosworth ran a consultation on whether to implement it in January 2025, but did not go ahead with the charge after the majority of respondents opposed it. That consultation found that many locals were concerned the premium would "penalise owners who may be renovating or trying to sell the property".

"They believe that empty properties do not use council services and thus should not be subject to higher taxes," the document added. Some councils, however, have considered implementing the premium in the past but have either not made a decision or ruled it out altogether. Wyre Forest falls into the latter category.

It said in a 2024 document that it "does not currently have any plans to increase the council tax levied upon second homes". Broadlands and South Norfolk, meanwhile, did consider bringing the tax in last year, saying it could "encourage second-home owners to sell their properties to local residents". However, no decision has been made as of April 2026.

Other areas that have avoided it so far include Wiltshire, South Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Wiltshire Council's minority Liberal Democrat administration had hoped to raise ?1.5m by doubling the rate of council tax on 1,300 second homes in the area but the plan was rejected by Conservative and Reform councillors, which shows how divisive the extra tax can be in some areas.

Kensington and Chelsea, where homes like these can be found, is one of the most expensive areas to buy a property in London (Photo: Jason Alden / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

London's Kensington and Chelsea borough, which has almost 7,000 second homes, has adopted the premium from this year (Photo: Jason Alden/Getty)

Will any political party scrap the premium?

Almost every major political party is in favour of the second-homes premium, though there is some discrepancy between the local and national stances. Labour is supportive of the charge, and ministers have indicated they could go further to close a gap in the law.

Currently, if an owner lets their property out for just 70 days a year, it can be reclassified as a business rather than a domestic residence, allowing them to apply for small business rates relief and pay little or nothing. Asked by Lib Dem MP Andrew George last month whether he would close this "gaping tax loophole", housing minister Matthew Pennycook told MPs that "additional powers" were "under review". And yet several Labour-run councils - including Amber Valley, Mansfield and Stevenage - have not brought in the charge.

The same pattern holds across the other parties. The Lib Dems and the Green Party of England and Wales both support the premium nationally, but some Lib Dem councils, including Vale of White Horse, have not adopted it. The Conservatives introduced the policy in 2023, but some councils the party runs, such as Solihull, have yet to implement it.

The exception is Reform UK. Nigel Farage [5] has called the charge "madness" and "extortion" -- yet several councils run by his party have kept or introduced it anyway. Durham and West Northamptonshire both maintained the premium after Reform won control in May 2025. North Northamptonshire went further, voting to introduce it from scratch, citing projected annual revenue of ?804,000.

A Reform spokesperson told PoliticsHome the party opposes the premium nationally but "accepts that local authorities have far fewer levers at their disposal".

How the local elections could change things

The upcoming local elections [6] are unlikely to shift the picture for most second-home owners dramatically in the short term. Under the legislation, a council must give at least 12 months' notice before it can begin charging the premium. But nothing is stopping a council from changing its mind over that period.

That means, if a different political party gains control of a local authority, they could come in and cancel a change scheduled for 2027. The charge is currently set to be enforced in Stratford-upon-Avon, Rugby, North Northamptonshire, Cherwell, Runnymede, Spelthorne and Tandridge from April 2027. The waiting period also means that it is now too late for any councils under new leadership to bring in the charge from April 2027, as they would have had to make the decision by the end of April 2026.

That means, for the 38 areas where no decision has been made on the second-homes premium, the earliest it could now be applied is the start of April 2028.

References

^ council tax premium on second homes (inews.co.uk)
^ the charge has quietly become the norm across the country (inews.co.uk)
^ council tax (inews.co.uk)
^ that figure only looks set to rise (inews.co.uk)
^ Nigel Farage (inews.co.uk)
^ upcoming local elections (inews.co.uk)