Latest news with #CornwallChamberofCommerce
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Airbnb bill' aimed at second home owners
A bill proposing a law change aimed at second home owners looking to "dodge council tax" has been presented to parliament by a North Cornwall MP. Dubbed the "Airbnb Bill", it proposes homeowners be required to seek planning permission before short-term letting their property. Liberal Democrat MP Ben Maguire said it would "close a loophole" which allowed property owners to avoid council tax by reclassifying their second homes as business lets. John Brown, CEO of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said the bill "was not a silver bullet, but a start". Mr Brown added: "It must sit alongside tougher regulation and a robust registration system for short-term lets. "If it deters those looking to extract profit from Cornwall without putting anything back — good. "If it helps restore housing stock for local people, even better. "And if it ensures our hospitality and tourism sectors can find workers with secure housing, then it's a win for all of Cornwall.". Describing a "surplus" of Airbnb homes, he said there were 14,000 second homes in the county, while 22,000 people were on the housing waiting list. The bill follows a campaign led by Mr Maguire, who put the proposal directly to the Housing Minister in order to "deliver deep change for North Cornwall". He added: "The bill is about restoring fairness in our system and giving local people a better chance at owning their own home," he added. In January 2023, Cornwall Council approved plans for owners of second homes in the county to be charged double council tax. In September 2024, Airbnb called for Cornwall Council to be given more data, powers and tools to regulate short-term rentals. The US online rental platform said it had written to local MPs and councillors across Cornwall to inform them of its support for new rules being implemented in the county. Airbnb also said it also supported the introduction of a registration scheme for people who wanted to let their homes to tourists. A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said it would fix the "inherited" housing crisis through its Plan for Change. They said it recognised the "excessive concentrations" of second homes and short-term lets could "price out local people and damage public services". It had scrapped the furnished holiday lets tax regime, it said, and councils now had powers to increase council tax bills of second homes, while it was "committed" to introducing a national mandatory registration scheme for short-term lets. Before a short-term let can be assessed for business rates it must first have been available for short-term letting for at least 140 days in the previous year, and actually let for at least 70 days in the previous year. More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ MP seeks law to regulate Airbnb 'party houses' Plans to use second homes tax on police patrols Demand for second homes has 'fallen off a cliff' Cornwall Chamber of Commerce
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Airbnb bill' aimed at second home owners
A bill proposing a law change aimed at second home owners looking to "dodge council tax" has been presented to parliament by a North Cornwall MP. Dubbed the "Airbnb Bill", it proposes homeowners be required to seek planning permission before short-term letting their property. Liberal Democrat MP Ben Maguire said it would "close a loophole" which allowed property owners to avoid council tax by reclassifying their second homes as business lets. John Brown, CEO of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said the bill "was not a silver bullet, but a start". Mr Brown added: "It must sit alongside tougher regulation and a robust registration system for short-term lets. "If it deters those looking to extract profit from Cornwall without putting anything back — good. "If it helps restore housing stock for local people, even better. "And if it ensures our hospitality and tourism sectors can find workers with secure housing, then it's a win for all of Cornwall.". Describing a "surplus" of Airbnb homes, he said there were 14,000 second homes in the county, while 22,000 people were on the housing waiting list. The bill follows a campaign led by Mr Maguire, who put the proposal directly to the Housing Minister in order to "deliver deep change for North Cornwall". He added: "The bill is about restoring fairness in our system and giving local people a better chance at owning their own home," he added. In January 2023, Cornwall Council approved plans for owners of second homes in the county to be charged double council tax. In September 2024, Airbnb called for Cornwall Council to be given more data, powers and tools to regulate short-term rentals. The US online rental platform said it had written to local MPs and councillors across Cornwall to inform them of its support for new rules being implemented in the county. Airbnb also said it also supported the introduction of a registration scheme for people who wanted to let their homes to tourists. A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said it would fix the "inherited" housing crisis through its Plan for Change. They said it recognised the "excessive concentrations" of second homes and short-term lets could "price out local people and damage public services". It had scrapped the furnished holiday lets tax regime, it said, and councils now had powers to increase council tax bills of second homes, while it was "committed" to introducing a national mandatory registration scheme for short-term lets. Before a short-term let can be assessed for business rates it must first have been available for short-term letting for at least 140 days in the previous year, and actually let for at least 70 days in the previous year. More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ MP seeks law to regulate Airbnb 'party houses' Plans to use second homes tax on police patrols Demand for second homes has 'fallen off a cliff' Cornwall Chamber of Commerce
CBC
05-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Cornwall businesses contend with fractured cross-border ties
One day into the Trump administration's sweeping 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods, the border city of Cornwall, Ont., is bracing for the costly impact on local businesses that depend on American ties. According to the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, one in three businesses in Cornwall has a direct trade relationship with the U.S. For Columbia Finishing Mills, a company that converts and distributes book coverings, exports to the U.S. make up roughly 15 to 20 per cent of its revenue. "I think a lot of people are nervous right now," said Matthieu Plourde, sales manager for the company. "It's putting us in a position where we're having to re-strategize. Not having all the information and all the details does make it a little tricky. We're not always 100 per cent sure to what degree this will affect us, but on the same note, we are nervous." Plourde said some impacts have been immediate, such as having to find reliable new suppliers to replace U.S. mills they've partnered with for several decades, as well as ways to service existing American customers. A less obvious challenge, he said, is keeping staff morale high. "We're quite resilient. We've endured a lot of recessions. Another round of tariffs also, that far predate my time here," Plourde said. "We were able to survive that just fine." Slippery business Meanwhile, Cornwall-based Ground Soap is slipping some relief to its American customers. Owner Angela Youngs said the family-owned soap manufacturer is extending a 25 per cent discount to U.S. buyers for two weeks to counteract the tariffs. "Those customers are really important to us," said Youngs. "It's quite a bit of our sales, and so as long as we can do that, we'll try and take care of them." Youngs wasn't sure the tariffs would ever actually happen, given how often U.S. President Donald Trump has delayed them so far. When she woke up to the new reality on Tuesday, it was "a little bit of a bummer," she said. Between the cost of the discount and the need to find new suppliers, the squeeze could cost the company thousands of dollars. "I think as Canadians, we try and stay optimistic, but it's gonna be painful for a bit," Youngs added. The one silver lining could be the trend toward buying Canadian on this side of the border. "It's a little bit tricky, but I think we're managing and I'm excited for new Canadian customers," said Youngs. "Now we just make the best of it." Trade war 'really unnecessary' Ross Butterworth of the Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce said businesses across the city are trying to find ways to soften the impact of tariffs. "A lot of members are looking at how this is going to impact their bottom line," he said. "Their mitigation strategies are with staffing, changing suppliers, finding new markets to sell to and also postponing capital expenditures." In his view, the impact of tariffs won't be limited to companies that do direct business with the U.S. There will be ripple effects across the city's economy. "Broadly, I think what you'll see is you're going to see reduction of staff, you're going to see some rise in unemployment," he said. "Even with businesses that don't necessarily sell into or directly import from the United States, they're going to be second- and third-hand impacted.... Everyone from top to bottom is going to feel the squeeze." Cornwall Mayor Justin Towndale said the city is looking at ways to support local businesses by easing the regulatory burden or by favouring Canadian business through municipal procurement. "I'm concerned," said Towndale. "We're talking about hundreds of jobs, millions in our local economy." He's also been meeting with municipal leaders from New York State, and has more meetings planned. He has a simple point to make. "I think it's unfortunate it's come to this point," said Towndale. "This trade war is really unnecessary, and it just doesn't make any sense. There's no reason for this. Our economies are intertwined, and that is a very beneficial relationship. But this sort of thing has the potential to damage both our economies and hurt our people in both countries."
