Councillors are set to debate calls for North Yorkshire Council to suspend its controversial second home council tax premium after a petition attracted 1,000 signatures.
The petition will go before the Thirsk and Malton area committee on September 25 and calls for the 100 per cent premium — which effectively doubles council tax bills for affected second homes — to be suspended while its social and economic impact is reviewed.
The petition was compiled by campaign group SHOUT (Second Homeowners Opposed to Unfair Taxation).
It wants the council to carry out further impact assessments, consult second homeowners, businesses and tradespeople, and seek independent advice on the effect of the policy on the property market.
The group claim the premium is having wider consequences for communities and businesses and argues some second homes are unsuitable or unaffordable for permanent occupation.
However, council officers say there is currently insufficient evidence to justify suspending the policy.
The premium was approved by full council in February 2024 and came into force on April 1, 2025.
Officers also reject the petitioners’ argument concerning Government guidance published in November 2024, saying the guidance came more than eight months after the council’s decision and does not apply retrospectively.
The council says the proposal was included in its Let’s Talk Money consultation, which received 1,875 responses. Of these, 1,474 — 79 per cent — supported a 100 per cent premium, while 256 opposed it and 145 were unsure.
New figures show the number of properties paying the premium fell from 7,078 in June 2025 to 6,132 in July this year, a reduction of 946.
A council review of 50 properties which stopped attracting the premium found 44 had changed ownership and were subsequently being used as someone’s main home, although officers caution against drawing wider conclusions from the small sample.
The premium is also generating money for housing projects. The council has allocated £20m of the income to a housing fund, including £4m for rural housing, £4m for community-led housing and £12m for supported housing and associated services.
When councillors debate the petition, they will have several options.
They can take no further action, request further monitoring information, refer their observations to the council’s Executive, or support the petition and recommend that the Executive gives further consideration to the premium.
Under the council’s petition rules, the organiser will be given five minutes to make their case before councillors debate the issue.
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