Holiday home owners face tax hike

People who own holiday homes in Somerset could face a rise in council tax bills.

The county council has recommended cutting the 50% rebate on second homes.

If the proposal is approved, it could raise an extra £1m a year to spend on local services.

But the council will only be able to collect up to 90% of the bill, as the government says second home owners have to have a discount of at least 10%.

Band D

The recommendation represents the start of the process to alter council tax bills.

Cathy Bakewell, leader of the council, told the BBC: "At the moment, very little council tax is collected on second homes: it was not worth it for the districts.

"We have passed our resolution now and hopefully the districts will come on board and this will kick off fairly soon."

Council tax for the average Band D home on Exmoor is just over £1,100 a year.