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Cunninghame North MSP Allan Wilson is supporting a shake-up of the Council
tax system which will allow local authorities to reduce tax breaks for
second home owners, in order to provide more affordable housing.
The Scottish Executive
has announced that from next year local authorities will have the ability to
vary the Council Tax discount on second homes and empty properties from 50%
to 10%. Any additional income will then be used to address shortages of
affordable housing.
Allan Wilson, who last
month highlighted the lack of affordable housing in Cunninghame North,
stated:
“Excess second home ownership in a community can influence both the
availability and the affordability of housing. The move to allow local
authorities to vary this second home discount is a direct response to the
housing shortages that exist in North Ayrshire and throughout Scotland. I
believe it will give North Ayrshire Council the ability to better respond to
local needs and specifically target housing hot spots.”
“Affordable housing is a key issue in this constituency and I am acutely
aware that there are a number of constituents especially young first time
buyers, that are simply being priced out of the housing market. I am
therefore delighted that any additional income raised locally will be
ploughed back in to provide more affordable housing in North Ayrshire.”
The MSP also vowed to
continue his campaign to increase the provision of social housing.
“I hope that with this new measure we can make real progress on this issue.
I am however aware that the demand for affordable housing will not be
provided for overnight and that many families are unable to find housing
which meets their needs. Constituents can be assured that I will continue to
raise this issue at the highest level.”
On announcing the new
proposals Finance Minister Andy Kerr said:
"These measures will allow more decisions to be taken at local level and in
the best interests of local areas. This additional income is no panacea, but
I believe it has potential to provide a genuine boost to the supply of
affordable housing for local people."
Minister for
Communities Margaret Curran added:
"Last month I announced a range of measures that we are taking forward to
improve the supply of affordable housing. This announcement complements
these measures and presents a significant opportunity for local authorities
should they wish to boost the supply of housing in pressured areas.”
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