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Teens say council tax rise gives coastal home hope

Paul Moseley
BBC political reporter, Norfolk
Robby West
BBC News, Norfolk
BBC We can see Cromer Pier on a sunny day. There are people walking on the promenade.BBC
Towns like Cromer have become increasingly popular with second home owners

Teenagers have welcomed a decision to double council tax on second homes in the hope it will help them afford to live where they grew up.

The district council is introducing the charge in north Norfolk where more than 5,000 out of 55,000 properties are second homes.

Locals often find themselves priced out of the market and some hope the higher rate might make the area less attractive to out-of-towners.

Izzie, 16, said she supported the idea and she would be disappointed if she "had to move away because of the cost".

Izzie is smiling at the camera. She's wearing a white shirt, blue tie and grey blazer
Izzie said Cromer was a town where "everyone knows each other"

"It's bringing money into the economy from homes that would potentially not be bringing any money in, (with) people who are just using them for one or two weeks a year," the Cromer Academy pupil added.

"If it's available for the locals to be able to buy or people moving into the area, that's bringing money into the economy."

Josh is giving a neutral expression towards the camera. He's wearing a white shirt, blue tie and grey blazer
Fifteen-year-old Josh fears he will not be able to afford a home locally when he's older

Fifteen-year-old Josh agreed, adding: "It's annoying because I know when I'm older I won't be able to buy a house around here because they're all second homes."

Tim Adams, the Liberal Democrat leader of the council, said the high number of second homes pushed up rental prices.

He also said there were growing issues around homelessness, with dozens of families needing temporary accommodation – and it was "not uncommon" for the council to have to house more than 80 children in one night in hotels and B&Bs.

Adams said money raised from the extra council tax charge would go towards those costs.

Richard Graveling is in the hotel lounge. He's wearing a grey top over a navy t-shirt.
Hotel owner Richard Graveling said second home owners did bring benefits to the town

The owner of the Grove Hotel in Cromer, Richard Graveling, said high rents caused problems for his staff, but warned the increased tax could have a negative effect on the economy.

"What we don't want to be doing is penalising those loyal second home owners who use all the businesses in town quite a lot," he said.

Blue Skies Estates Hetti Simpson is sitting on the steps of a blue beach hut, smiling with her arms folded. She's wearing a dark blue top and patterned blue and white skirt.Blue Skies Estates
Estate agent Hetti Simpson said the second home market had become "stagnant" since plans for the council tax increase were announced

Hetti Simpson, from estate agents Blue Skies Estates in Holt, said that having many properties used as holiday homes was "vital" for tourism.

"Second home owners are being slightly vilified as the reason for the shortage of properties on the coast," she said.

"A lot of the homes are not suitable for people to live in – a lot of them don't have parking, a lot of them are very small."

The new council tax rules will apply from 1 April.

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