Madam, – Your readers may have been left with an inaccurate impression from Bill Wigham’s letter of October 2nd regarding exemptions from the recently introduced property charge on second homes.
The exemption referred to by Mr Wigham – Section 2. (1) (c) in the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 – does not apply to personal private properties of Government Ministers.
This exemption pertains to residential properties let by Government departments. In many cases the seal of office of the Minister in question is used since the ownership of the property is vested in the office of the Minister. Various government departments own residential properties for a variety of official purposes and reasons. – Yours, etc,