Pembrokeshire council tax premium for second homes recommended to stay at 125 per cent next year

The council tax premium paid by second home-owners in Pembrokeshire, which sees the average such owner face bills of nearly £2,800, is being recommended to remain at the same level next year.
At its October 5 meeting, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet was asked to consider keeping the current 125 per cent premium on second homes.
Pembrokeshire’s second-home council tax premium has changed several times over the years.
The premium rose from an extra 50 per cent in April, 2017, to 100 per cent in 2022 and 200 per cent in 2024, before falling to 150 per cent in 2025 and 125 per cent in the current financial year.
The premium applies to all three parts of the council tax bill: the county council, police precept and town or community council charges.
For an average Band D property second home, the total bill across all three charges is £2,707.68.
A 25 per cent rise or fall in the premium is worth roughly £1.4 million to the council, with most of the income funding affordable housing and sustainable local communities.
Pembrokeshire still has one of Wales’ highest proportions of second homes, with several coastal areas proving particular hotspots.
A report, presented by Cabinet member for finance Cllr Jon Harvey, said: “The overall number of second homes in Pembrokeshire has remained relatively stable over the last year, increasing from 4,483 in October, 2025, to 4,559 in August, 2026.
“The number of properties attracting the second homes premium has reduced slightly from 3,748 to 3,688, whilst the number of properties qualifying for an exception has increased from 735 to 871.”
As in previous years, the council consulted residents this summer on premium levels.
The questionnaire received 1,629 responses, including 788 from second-home owners and 413 from self-catering holiday-home owners; last year’s total was 2,375.
The report said: “Support for reducing or removing the premium was particularly strong amongst second home owners and self-catering accommodation providers.
“However, sole or main residents in Pembrokeshire were more likely to support higher premium levels than other respondent groups.”
Members unanimously backed keeping the 125 per cent premium.
Members also backed the current 300 per cent premium for properties left empty for two years or more.
Full council will make the final decision on both premiums at its October 15 meeting. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​