Summary
A council in the UK plans to classify beach huts as second homes, requiring owners to pay full council tax. The move aims to help the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) Council address a budget gap. Beach hut owners are questioning the legality of this plan, as the huts lack basic facilities like mains connections and toilets.
Key Facts
- BCP Council wants to raise around £211,000 by classifying beach huts as second homes.
- More than 300 hut owners at Mudeford Spit in Dorset will pay full council tax if the plan is approved.
- Beach huts are simple structures without essential utilities like electricity or toilets.
- The council is dealing with a £9 million budget shortfall and is exploring ways to increase revenue.
- The council's finance official said they need to explore all possible revenue sources.
- The estimated council tax for these huts could double from £618 to £1,236 yearly.
- Beach huts in the area have previously sold for large sums, sometimes hundreds of thousands of pounds.
- The proposal will be discussed by the council's cabinet on January 14.
