By Bill Heaney
The Scottish Greens have secured an increase to the tax paid when buying second and holiday homes, raising over £30 million for public services and helping to tackle the housing crisis.
The increase of the Additional Dwelling Supplement was secured by the party’s finance spokesperson, Ross Greer MSP, during budget negotiations with the Scottish Government.
Unlike other tax policies, which are voted on alongside the budget, changes to the Additional Dwelling Supplement are made immediately after they are announced, to prevent potential tax avoidance.
The change, which has been agreed by the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee this morning, will see the rate increase from 6% to 8%, raising an additional £32 million a year for public services according to the independent Scottish Fiscal Commission. This comes two years after the Scottish Greens secured the first increase in ADS, from 4% to 6%.
Mr Greer, pictured right, said: “Housing is a human right, but there are people across Scotland who desperately need a good quality and affordable place to call home and just cannot get it.
“Thousands of properties sit empty for most of the year after being bought as holiday homes, or are hoarded by landlords who can outbid those trying to buy their first home.
“This increase in the Additional Dwelling Supplement will help to tackle that imbalance, making it more expensive for those who already own their own home to buy additional properties, boosting the chances of first time buyers having their offers accepted. It will also raise tens of millions of pounds for public services like schools and hospitals.
“The money raised will come overwhelmingly from those who are already wealthy enough to buy extra properties, something totally outwith the reach of most people.
“This is just one of the changes the Scottish Greens have already secured through budget negotiations, alongside additional investment in climate action and tackling child poverty. We will continue negotiating constructively with the Scottish Government to secure a budget that works for people and planet.”
Top of page: Oban, a West Coast town popular with people who want a holiday home.
But where is the £32 million extra tax going. Pensions for the politicos.
One thing for sure is that not a bean of it will be going to restore the heating allowance for pensioners, or provide funds to end the health holocaust of there being no NHS dentists.
Or will it go to supporting LGBTQ+ education to our primary children. We’ve spent a lot on that already. Maybe someone could let on as to what this tax is being levied for.
And meanwhile, with the failure to collect domestic bins over the recent weeks folks are no longer separating their waste for recycling but simply disposing of it causing substantial environmental and monetary costs. Ditto the failure to grit roads giving rise to a spate of vehicle accidents and pedestrian slips and falls.
More tax Ross, that’s what its about, more council tax, more national insurance, stagnant tax thresholds, where will it end. But here’s a suggestion. What about diverting some of the huge profit that is being plundered from Scotland’s wind energy, oil and gas energy. How’s about a windfall tax to fund Scottish services.
Or is it just Green tokenism.