'Enormous' bills bring call to exempt locals from tax on short-term holiday lets

SOME Gwynedd councillors are demanding locals are exempted from council tax premiums on short term holiday lets after some have been hit with “enormous” £20,000 bills.

- Dale Spridgeon

Twelve county councillors, representing Llŷn and Eifionydd, are calling on Cyngor Gwynedd’s Cabinet to introduce “as a matter of urgency” a policy to allow exceptions for local people.

They said the policy to charge council tax paid on short term lets is having a harmful impact on some residents.

The council had brought in the measures in a bid to tackle a housing crisis, and to discourage second homes or holiday lets.

The aim was to stop areas such as Morfa Nefyn, Aberdaron and Abersoch becoming overrun with holiday accommodation and effectively pricing locals out of the property market.

But the Llŷn and Eifionydd councillors say the levy is actually hammering locals who have converted small outbuildings and garages.

They said: “Calling on the cabinet of Cyngor Gwynedd to introduce, as a matter of urgency, a policy to allow exceptions with regard to the premium on council tax in the case of short term holiday lets owned by local people.