Is presenter Carol Vorderman a high-profile casualty of Pembrokeshire County Council’s second homes council tax hike, after it was reported the Welsh broadcaster had sold her ‘luxury’ seaside village apartment.

The second homes Council Tax premium in Pembrokeshire increased to 200% for this financial year, from a previous 100%, meaning such properties effectively now pay a treble rate, after new rules were introduced by the Welsh Government with the aim of making it easier for people to afford homes in the area locally.

Since the premium rise, second home-owners have been faced with hefty council tax bills, as much as £15,000 in some cases.

Solva in Pembrokeshire
Solva in Pembrokeshire (Stock image)

Earlier this year, a letter sent to the Local Authority, signed by 100 members of the ‘Pembrokeshire Council Tax Premium support group’, stated: “In April when most of us received our council tax bills with their grossly inflated rates. Most of us have a council tax bill of £5,000 to over £12,000 for 2024/2025. This is unaffordable.”

The number of second homes and self-catering holiday properties in Pembrokeshire has declined year-on-year, county councillors heard back in the summer.

The number of second homes for sale in the county has trebled since the council tax trebled, with 135 on the market in July, compared to 38 the previous year, figures have indicated.

Council figures last month showed that there are now 3,271 properties registered as second homes, down from 3,364 the year before.

Broadcaster Carol Vorderman
Broadcaster Carol Vorderman (Stock image)

Now national newspaper the Daily Mail has reported that the Labour-supporting presenter and former Countdown host Carol Vorderman appears to have become the latest victim of the ‘crackdown on second home owners’ after she recently sold her luxury apartment in Pembrokeshire, within days of it going on the market, for £450,000, according to an estate agent's website.

Ms Vorderman is said to have bought the two-bedroom apartment in the seaside village of Solva with sea views looking out to St Bride's Bay less than three years ago for £350,000, and, at the time, said she hoped to spend her retirement there.