Holiday let owners in Burnham Market asked to pay £100

Second home owners in Burnham Market face a 100pc council tax surcharge on their properties.

But the owners of furnished holiday lets, who pay business rates instead of council tax, will not be liable for the levy 

Now Burnham Market Parish Council is going to write to the owners of around 200 properties, asking them to contribute £100.

The owners of holiday lets in Burnham Market will be asked to make a voluntary contribution of £100 (Image: Chris Bishop)

Its chairman Dennis Clark said: "We just want to write a letter to ask them if they'll make a contribution, it's totally voluntary.

"We're asking them to do the village a favour because they don't pay council tax."

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Mr Clark said the letters will be sent out in March or April and any money raised would help pay towards the cost of street lighting, mowing the greens and maintaining the playing fields and children's playground.

The money would help towards the costs of maintaining the village, including mowing its many greens (Image: Matthew Usher)

He added he had so far spoken to a couple who own a holiday let, who said they would be willing to contribute.

"Their very words were that seems very fair to us Dennis," he said.

Most owners do not deal directly with enquiries, using online booking platforms to promote their businesses instead.

The owner of one £1,600-a-week let, a four-bed property near the centre of the village, who did not wish to be named, said: "I think it's a fair comment, it's a fair thing to ask.

"I think everyone needs to work together on these things, it's a discussion that needs to be had."

Villagers in Burnham Market voted last September for new curbs on second homes and holiday lets at a neighbourhood plan referendum (Image: Chris Bishop)

Some £235 of the £1,600 rental cost for the woman's property goes to Airbnb, which promotes numerous holiday lets in Burnham Market and on the nearby coast.

Other agencies boast dozens of properties on their books, in what has become an expanding online industry.

Villagers last year voted for a new neighbourhood plan which included a stipulation that any new development in the village would have to be a principal residence.

It came after fears the boom in second homes and holiday lets was driving prices beyond the reach of locals.