Letter: Paying double council tax for second home in New Forest is so unfair

SIR – Cllr Heron's suggestion that second-home owners should pay twice as much council tax (A&T, 16th December) is very unfair; second-home buyers already have to pay a higher stamp duty when they buy a second property!

Most first-time buyers cannot afford to buy in the New Forest. Even the so-called new-build affordable homes are purchased by people living out of the area as second homes or housing associations to rent out.

When it comes to flats in places like Milford, the people want to sell so naturally they don’t ask or care if it’s a second home!

Council tax has been going up by a lot every year for the last few years. Single people only get one quarter off, not half, whereas some homes might have several incomes coming in. How's that fair?

Better management of the public’s council tax, making sure there is no waste and value for money, good contract negotiation etc, not using home owners as a piggy bank!

NB I am not a second-home owner!

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