Carmarthenshire Council Cabinet gives go-ahead to develop policy on second homes and short-term holiday lets

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet has today, September 18, approved plans to develop a new planning policy approach for second homes and short-term holiday lets within Carmarthenshire.

In response to research on the impact of second homes and short-term lets on housing markets and communities across Wales, the Welsh Government announced a series of measures aimed at providing greater controls in relation to the use of properties as second homes and short-term commercial lets.

These include providing local authorities with the ability to charge up to 300% on council tax for second homes, the introduction of a licensing scheme for short-term lets and changes to planning legislation and policy.

Following its second homes and empty properties consultation, Carmarthenshire County Council announced earlier this year that it will introduce council tax premiums on second homes and long-term empty properties, which will come into effect from April 1, 2024.

In voting to develop a new policy approach for second homes and short-term holiday lets within Carmarthenshire, the Cabinet has allowed the Council to frame the way forward in developing a planning policy approach which will highlight the primary considerations and the potential mechanisms to control the unrestricted change of use between the new use classes of properties.

Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr. Alun Lenny said: “Today’s decision by the Cabinet is all-important to ensure the Authority responds to the legislative changes along with the implications and impacts that second homes and short-term holiday lets have on the communities of Carmarthenshire.”