Teignbridge plans to double council tax for second homeowners when it is able to, a move described as "very welcome".

On Tuesday (3 January) the district council's executive agreed to adopt the policy, subject to further approval in the coming weeks, becoming the latest local authority to provisionally sign up after Mid Devon, South Hams and Cornwall.

The government included the new surcharge for second homes in its levelling-up and regeneration bill last year, but the new tax power for councils is not expected to be introduced until next year at the earliest.

Teignbridge District Council has also provisionally agreed to adopt another new power in the levelling-up bill, allowing it to double council tax faster on properties that have been empty of furniture and residents for 12 months – a reduction from the current two years.

It is hoped the change will free up more properties and help to ease the current housing crisis in Devon, with both local families and key workers from further afield struggling to move to the area due to a lack of suitable housing.

Councillor Martin Wrigley (Lib Dem, Dawlish North East), the council's executive member for homes, communities and cost-of-living crisis, said after the meeting: "Whilst I've absolutely nothing against second homes, it breaks my heart to see them empty and unused and nobody there.

"Too many empty second homes in a village can destroy the heart of the community, so seeing this is a really good thing because it will encourage people to either use them or put them back into use for people locally."

Statistics reveal "astonishing" coincidence

There are approximately 1,250 people with a registered housing need in Teignbridge according to a council report, while it believes around 1,240 properties are furnished but not currently used as anyone's sole or main residence.

Cllr Wrigley said the almost identical totals are "a coincidence and there is no correlation," but added: "That is quite astonishing."

The council's analysis suggests doubling of council tax for second homes could generate around £2.5 million in extra revenue. It would be entitled to keep around £225,000 with the rest going to Devon County Council, police, fire and town/parish councils.

Doubling tax on empty homes faster, meanwhile, could generate in the region of £190,000 in extra revenue (£17,000 to Teignbridge), based on 115 properties that have been empty and unfurnished for a year or more.

"The idea is that we want the people with second homes to be real contributors to the local area," Cllr Wrigley says, "be that through higher council tax or through actually occupying the place more and actually having it used, and that is really what is important.

"What we can't have is empty homes. Empty for reason of being second homes or for reason of being just not used. We don't have the space to do that."

A full meeting of the council will be asked to rubber-stamp the decisions in the coming weeks.