In a controversial move to boost its finances, a Dorset council has voted unanimously to start charging the owners of hundreds of beach huts full council tax, classifying the timber structures as second homes.
"Cash Cow" Policy Approved Unanimously
Cash-strapped BCP Council pressed ahead with the plan, which will see the 344 sought-after huts at Mudeford Spit in Christchurch placed in council tax band A. From April, owners will face an annual bill of approximately £5,200.
Councillors dismissed the fierce objections of hut owners, who feel they are being used as a "cash cow" by the local authority. Mike Cox, the council's cabinet member for finance, defended the decision, stating that hutters are sitting on a "very valuable asset" and that the council must prioritise helping "those that can least afford it."
A Hefty Bill for a Basic Asset
The huts at Mudeford are famously Britain's most expensive, often selling for between £400,000 and £575,000. However, the Mudeford Sandbanks Beach Hut Association argues that most owners are not wealthy but ordinary families who inherited huts bought for a few hundred pounds decades ago.
The association highlights the huts' significant limitations: they have no mains water, electricity, or toilets, can only be occupied for eight months of the year, and owners must rely on communal facilities they say are unfit for purpose.
Darren Pidwell, chairman of the association, expressed profound disappointment. "The council made a pre-determined decision, they considered none of the sensible, reasonable and legal arguments," he said. "For many this will become a significant financial burden."
Pidwell warned that with insurance and maintenance, total annual costs could reach £7,000, potentially forcing families to sell. "I think it will tip a lot of people over the edge," he added. The association is now considering legal action.
Council Defends Move Amid Financial Pressure
The Liberal Democrat-run council stated it faces "beyond brutal" funding cuts from central government and must find revenue elsewhere. Councillors argued that hut owners benefit from public facilities and coastal protection schemes that require funding.
Andy Hadley noted that while mains services are funded by utilities, hut owners use council-provided public facilities. David Brown emphasised the need to fund millions for coastal defences, which directly protect the huts. The council also pointed out it is not imposing the 200% premium often levied on second homes.
Despite some sympathy for owners who inherited their huts, Mr Cox reiterated the council's position: "It's a very valuable asset that they sit on." The policy was voted through on Thursday 15 January 2026 and is set to take effect in the new financial year.
