London
fromwww.bbc.com
1 hour agoWhat you need to know as Hillingdon heads into local elections
Hillingdon is the second-largest and one of the greenest boroughs in Greater London, with a rich history and diverse demographics.
A west London council is poised to hit second-home owners with a major tax hike as it looks for new ways to plug growing budget gaps. This will effectively double the bill for owners who keep properties empty. For Band D homes, owners must pay 1,952.38 a year in council tax. Around 750 second homes are registered in Hillingdon and are likely to be affected by the changes unless they have a valid exemption.