More than £4.8m of the government money earmarked to support businesses through the coronavirus crisis has been claimed by holiday home owners in York.
City of York Council was given nearly £40m to distribute to about 2,500 eligible businesses in the city.
And a council spokesperson confirmed that 466 second home or holiday let owners successfully applied for the scheme – and received grants of either £10,000 or £25,000.
In total £4.84m went to holiday lets or second homes – which may be registered as businesses rather than homes.
Not available to B&Bs
The grants were not available to B&Bs – as many pay council tax rather than business rates – and the national Bed and Breakfast Association wrote to government to say they were “dismayed” to hear that second-home owners were able to claim the grants.
The government has since announced extra funding to help these businesses.
Last month a specialist team at the council worked over the Easter bank holiday weekend to process applications for the support grants and deliver business rates relief as quickly as possible.
More than £100m of grants and rates relief was allocated to the local authority to support businesses and protect jobs during the outbreak.
The council has also launched a funding scheme to help smaller businesses that may not qualify for the government grants. Find out more at the City of York Council website.