Second Homes - Freedom of information requests

Second Homes

2024331

18/03/2024

FOI

Could you please supply the following information, I have checked your website and it is not available, 1. The Borders Council view of caravans' or lodges being described as second homes and how many caravans or lodges are in the Scottish Borders Council Area?
2. That potential impact assessment has been undertaken on the economy if second homeowners remove their homes from being used as holiday homes? "b What is the figure and how was this arrived at?
3. What is Borders council doing to identify second home owners in the SBC area who have not been honest in their submissions to the SBC when describing their home ownership.
4 has the SBC undertaken a risk assessment of the impact of this policy on the redevelopment on uninhabitable homes in the SBC area, what impact has the SBC identified?
5. If SBC has not undertaken these Impact and risk assessments when will they be undertaking them?

The Borders Council view of caravans' or lodges being described as second homes and how many caravans or lodges are in the Scottish Borders Council Area?
Q1 Part 1 – The Borders Council view of caravans' or lodges being described as second homes The information requested is otherwise accessible online via Caravans and Council Tax | Scottish Borders Council (scotborders.gov.uk) and is therefore exempt under Section 25 of Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Q1 Part 2 - how many caravans or lodges are in the Scottish Borders Council Area? The Assessor has advised that there are currently 60 Caravans in the Council Tax List. He also advises that if a caravan ceases to be someone’s sole or main residence the entry would be deleted from the Council Tax List. The Assessor is unfortunately unable to determine how many lodges are in the Council Tax List as this would require a manual search of c20,000 property records within the Council Tax List to determine if the physical characteristics are that of a lodge. The cost of investigating this would exceed the prescribed limits therefore this part of your request is refused under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act Scotland 2002.
Q2. That potential impact assessment has been undertaken on the economy if second homeowners remove their homes from being used as holiday homes?
"b What is the figure and how was this arrived at?
Q2. Both Stage 1 and Stage 2 Integrated Impact Assessments (IIA) were conducted as part of the policy introduction.
The Scottish Government also undertook a partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment when consulting on the introduction of the legislation. The IIA demonstrated that the policy would have a positive impact due to more houses becoming available for full time occupation within the area. There is no requirement within the IIA process to calculate a figure attached to the expected outcomes.
3. What is Borders council doing to identify second home owners in the SBC area who have not been honest in their submissions to the SBC when describing their home ownership.
Q3. The decision on where a person is considered to be solely or mainly resident takes into account the overall nature and purpose of their residency. We request further information and documentary evidence to help assist us in determining whether a property is someone’s main residence or a second home such as evidence of Scottish Income Tax code, Utility bills showing usage, confirmation of address from Electoral Registration Roll/Bank/Doctors/Dentist etc, Council Tax information in relation to the main residence and we may make enquiries with other Local Authorities. We also regularly carry out reviews to ensure the occupation status shown on the Assessment Roll remains correct.
Q4 has the SBC undertaken a risk assessment of the impact of this policy on the redevelopment on uninhabitable homes in the SBC area, what impact has the SBC identified? Q5. If SBC has not undertaken these Impact and risk assessments when will they be undertaking them? Q4 & Q5 The process does not require a separate risk assessment to be undertaken. The policy relates to second homes and not uninhabitable homes.

Caravans and Council Tax (scotborders.gov.uk)