A former Cornish MP has said the government is “rewarding second home owners with more free money” following Rishi Sunak’s latest energy bill discount announcement. The chancellor revealed yesterday that the government will offer a £ 400 grant to all households in October to help with rising energy costs.
The discount applies to each individual property, that is, people who own more than one home will receive payment twice or more, depending on the number of properties they own.
According to The Times, 772,000 homes with two properties will receive £ 800 while 61,000 people with three homes will receive £ 1,200.
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Homeowner and former St Ives MP Andrew George said: “Conservatives have rewarded some second home owners with more than £ 100m in aid for Covid Cornwall (while penalizing “They’re being rewarded with more free money. This time for energy they don’t use.”
Mr George was referring to second home owners who received financial aid from businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Holiday home owners received almost £ 170 million in Covid-19 grants in Cornwall, with almost 62% earmarked for people living outside the county.
Grants were only claimed for vacation rentals and second homes that were registered as businesses, not used solely for leisure. George then demanded that the money be returned to those who use their second homes in Cornwall as an “investment or leisure toy for the rich” and instead use it to help local families “who are suffering. the housing emergency “in Cornwall.
He is now asking the government to stop paying £ 400 for second homeowners.
Sunak, who owns several properties, told Sky News this morning that he will donate his own payments to a charity. A Treasury spokesman said the government’s intention is for the fund to reach as many households as possible, while minimizing the administrative complexity of the scheme. They added that second homes account for less than two percent of the real estate stock.
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