Second homes premium exemption

Hello, we are doing a similar story to one we ran in April on second homes:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/property/second-homes-flood-market-sellers-exploit-council-tax/

This is because we have new figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government which show…

More than a quarter of second home owners living in areas where a council charges a 100pc tax penalty have dodged paying the surcharge.

Of the 236,000 second homes in the firing line for England’s double council tax charge, 66,000 are sidestepping the premium.

Owners can secure a full 12-month reprieve by listing their property for sale even if they have little intention of agreeing a deal.

Permanent exemptions can also be awarded, but these are governed by strict guidelines. For example, care staff and boarding school headteachers can secure relief as they are required to live away from their main residence for specific work purposes.

With this in mind, have estate agents noticed a rise in the number second home owners listing their home for sale with little/no intention of selling up?

Is this something you are seeing?

Cheers, Joe