Drop in Second Homes after North Devon Council Tax Move

The number of Second Homes registered in North Devon has dropped by 300 since an extra tax penalty was introduced for out-of-area owners.

North Devon Council's Liberal Democrat administration raised the Council Tax on Second Homes by an additional 100% in April 2025, and the number of second homes in North Devon has now fallen below 2,000.

The new penalty has raised an additional £3.4m to support public services for local residents, including local housing schemes. The extra housing stock will also help offset the need for new housebuilding in the area, and bring more empty homes back into use.

Lead member for Housing at North Devon Council, Cllr Graham Bell, told the North Devon Gazette the council’s strategy and resources committee that this was “good news”, but highlighted the 960 homes known to be empty for more than 3 months in the area, around 2% of North Devon's total housing.

Ian Roome, Lib Dem MP for North Devon added: “Local families need be able to get affordable housing here in North Devon, and we want to see local housing being used, not sitting empty for long periods.”

The council is now running a public consultation on its Homelessness Prevention Strategy during July and August, seeking views on its prevention, accommodation and support plans.