With the much-anticipated Brynhir housing development in Tenby not expected to be completed until summer 2029, members of the seaside town’s Civic Society believe that Pembrokeshire County Council’s policy to buy existing houses could help fill the gap.

Formal powers allowing Pembrokeshire County Council to potentially force the sale of problem long-term empty properties as a last resort, were backed by senior councillors at a meeting in January.

Long-term empty properties in Pembrokeshire are currently charged a premium council tax rate of 300% for those empty for more than two years, effectively a quadruple tax bill.

A report from PCC’s Director Social Care, Housing and Public Protection, Gaynor Toft, presented to members stated: “The need to develop this Strategy was a priority that was raised within Pembrokeshire’s Housing Strategy 2024-2029.

“It is important to stress that this procedure is likely to be rarely used and only in cases where there is no other option but necessary due the extend of works that the council has had to undertake to make improvements to the property. The main focus will always be that of informal and supportive action with property owners.”

“Long-term, often problematic empty properties are considered a waste of a valuable resource which could be added to the pool of much-needed housing in the county. They can also frequently become blights to neighbourhoods by becoming targets for antisocial behaviour, trespass, vandalism and arson.

A further report for members, jointly presented by Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Michelle Bateman and Cabinet Member for Planning & Regulatory Services Cllr Jacob Williams, recommended they endorse the strategic plans.

Commenting on the issue, a spokesperson for Tenby Civic Society shared: “Welsh Government’s requirement that holiday lettings must be for at least 182 days of the year for the property to qualify for Business rates, thus avoid the Council Tax premium, has stirred up some reaction.

“Quite a few holiday lets have been put up for sale in Tenby – some sold, some not.

“Planning studies suggested that these restrictions would not reduce house prices by much (5% in one study) so not many lower income locals would be able to afford still high prices.

“However, owners were given a 12 month period of no Council Tax Premium if their properties were for sale. Only at the end of March this year will we find out if their efforts to sell were genuine.

“Lower income locals’ best chance is with the County Council’s building new social rent housing. The opportunity for the County to buy existing houses and convert them to social rents would add to these opportunities inside existing settlements like Tenby.

“We have seen that some properties done up for holiday lets in Tenby were to a poorer standard (building layout, not furnishing); these are apparently acceptable for holiday makers, but would not be acceptable for long term renting.

“The Brynhir housing is a couple of years’ away; the County buying existing houses could help fill the gap,” they added.