Editor’s opinion - week 08, 2025
North Ayrshire Council’s decision to implement a 100 per cent tax levy on second homes can be both a blessing and a curse.
On one hand it may help free up some much-needed housing stock on the island, but on the other it can be a burden for those who own small cottages that have been passed down through the family. Not every second home is a luxurious island bolthole, and for many they are only retained as they are paid for and are affordable to maintain.
Making the bitter pill even more difficult to swallow for those who will be paying double the council tax on their properties is that this levy may not even result in the outcome it was designed for – to help fund more affordable housing. The truth is the expected £1.2m per annum will be significantly diluted when it is spread across the entire locality.
It is fair to say that not every decision will benefit, or be fair, for everyone and there may be some “collateral damage” from this policy. It remains to be seen if it will help or hinder the affordable housing situation on Arran.
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