WEALTHY Scots who keep second homes in some of the most scenic parts of the country face a doubling of their council tax in a shake-up of local government.
Local authority chiefs in the Highlands, Fife, and Argyll and Bute say they intend to use the SNP Government's reform of local tax to massively inflate the tax they charge on second homes in their areas.
They argue that with as many as 90% of hous
es in villages being owned by city dwellers from elsewhere in the UK, there needs to be a higher tax so that locals are able to buy the houses instead.
Villages such as Plockton in the Highlands or Crail on the East Neuk in Fife are often cited as cases where holiday home-owners have bought up large numbers of properties, leading to claims that they turn many communities into ghost towns when they are away.
Currently, second home owners have to pay 90% of the local council tax rate, reflecting the fact that they do not use local services as much.
But it has now emerged that ministers are encouraging councils to increase that rate if they see fit.
The development is revealed in the small print of plans announced last week by the Scottish Government to scrap the council tax. Ministers intend to keep the tax for second homes.
The document declares: "Local authorities for whom such properties (second homes] have reduced the supply of affordable housing may wish to set a higher level of tax."
The new higher rates would be used to boost the number of cheaper homes in such areas.
Council chiefs in such areas who were contacted by Scotland on Sunday said they would like to utilise the new powers.
Highland councillor Mike Foxley said: "The vast majority of people in the Highlands with a holiday home are wealthy and well able to pay an extra levy for their second home. This is about equity and the lack of affordable housing."
He added: "On the west side of Ardnamurchan, 50% of the homes are holiday homes, and it rises to 90% in some of the townships. We need to put a disincentive to that situation increasing in the future. I would like to double it."
Peter Grant, leader of Fife Council, said: "There are villages under threat because of the number of holiday homes. There are some parts of Fife, such as the East Neuk, where there are only a small percentage of local people living there, to the extent that pubs don't bother opening during the week in the winter because there is nobody there."
Robert MacIntyre, the deputy leader of Argyll and Bute Council, added: "Personally, I am in favour of raising the tax. We in Argyll and Bute have a serious problem with affordable housing and keeping our young people."
The SNP's plans also suggest that in parts of Scotland where there are low levels of second home ownership, the current 90% tax rate could be lowered.
