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Search the Public Notice PortalA pensioner says he may be forced to leave Kendal after being hit with a steep council tax increase on his second home – despite spending most of his time in the town.
John Hardy, 80, who has visited Cumbria since 1954, now owns a property in Kendal where he says he lives for up to 70 per cent of the year. Although his primary address remains in Cheltenham for medical and personal reasons, he says his life is rooted in Kendal.
After buying his property in 2014, the town, he says, is where he has close ties, spends the majority of his income and where he has helped neighbours through difficult times.
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John said he now pays £330 a month in council tax - almost triple what he paid last year -after Westmorland and Furness Council introduced a 100 per cent premium on second homes.
The rise was compounded by the loss of a 25 per cent single-person discount he had previously received in error.
He said the extra cost was unsustainable on his small pension and was forcing him to consider selling the property.
The council said it is 'confident that applying a second homes premium is the right thing to do for the area'.
John raised concerns about the new tax following an earlier article in The Westmorland Gazette about Ambleside second homeowner Rob Nicholls and empathised with the issues raised.
John, however, said he felt unfairly grouped with people who rarely visit their second homes, noting some of his neighbours' properties sit empty for most of the year.
"I have lived mainly in Windermere and then Kendal since the death of my wife in 2000," John said. "Although I have kept my main residence in Cheltenham, I live here for about 60 to 70 per cent of my time.
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"I spend a lot locally – in fact, the greater part of my disposable income here goes to local shops, fish and chip shops, supermarkets and garages.
"I am a member of a local golf club and have until recently been a member of other clubs and societies. I support local events as much as I can - particularly the mountain festival.
"I have also, for many years, been a support to elderly neighbours and think I have been particularly helpful to my neighbour who is still suffering from the loss of her son through suicide two years ago."
He said: "Several of my 'neighbours' live abroad and visit their properties here either rarely or never, and I find it particularly galling to be categorised with these people.
"If that's what Westmorland and Furness Council think, then so be it – I'll have to accept that I'm not wanted here and be pushed out. Then the council will find out whether they benefit or not."
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John said he does not believe his presence is harming the community or preventing younger people from accessing housing. He added that Kendal is a working town and not comparable to 'honeypot' locations with high concentrations of holiday homes.
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He even said he is open to proving his year-round residency and said: "If you need proof that I live here you are more than welcome to visit me to look at my full fridge and freezer and food cupboards, and wardrobes."
A council spokesperson said: "This year Westmorland and Furness Council introduced the 100% council tax premium on second homes. This will generate an additional £10.6million which will be used to help fund essential services and also provide £5million to fund a range of investment projects including additional investment for playgrounds, funding towards selected transport schemes and projects such as the travel bursary scheme and the commitment to create more 20mph schemes as well as additional funding to support development of affordable housing.
"Westmorland and Furness Council remain confident that applying a second homes premium is the right thing to do for the area. It allows the council to use the additional income raised to both invest in specific projects and more widely deliver on our priority of supporting the provision of housing and employment opportunities to help our communities thrive.
"However, we also fully appreciate that for some of our residents there will be individual circumstances that we need to carefully consider, especially as the second homes premium is still new. A single person’s allowance/discount can only be applied to a person’s primary residence but we do have a policy to consider waiving the additional premium on second homes and we would encourage anyone who feels that they may be eligible to make an application. Full details are available on our website - Exceptions for Second Home and Long-Term Empty Home Premiums | Westmorland and Furness Council."
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