Second Homes
Graham Green wants to speak up for all the people with .
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Oh my god, this man is really deluding himself. Those small, unheated, twisted staircased houses, may not be suitable for families to grow up in, but they are perfect for local young people to get out of living at home with their parents.
Property trusts to increase rental property and affordable housing are a great idea, something we are planning in Youlgrave, Derbyshire.
Complain about this postPlease please please, stop buying houses that local people need to live in to keep are shops, schools and communities alive.
So Graham is basically saying, 'Don't hate us because we're richer that you'... Someones just going have to tell him that you can't have everything, that just wouldn't be fair would it?
Complain about this postSecond homes? I have nothing against people buying them, we live in a free market after all but why not make it jolly expensive own one? After all it would be a difficult argument to make to suggest a 2nd home is a necessity whereas for most people a first generally is. In rural areas such as where I live in North Wales small cottages are being snapped up at 'amazing prices' meaning local families don't stand a chance and breaking up villages that have had generations living in them for ever. Don't change house prices but make Council Tax five times more expensive for 2nd home owners, make it 10 times more expensive, I'm sure the new primeminister can think of some way of managing it. then if people still choose to but at least they will be contributing to the local economy, even if they do buy in all their groceries from Waitrose!
Complain about this postBlar,Blar ..If you have a stressfull city job,a second homes is not essential,surly there are Hotels ect so you can get away from work. I feel this country attitude to house buying is totally imoral. Muilty property owing is pure avarice.
Complain about this postFirst, let me draw to your attention that the 大象传媒 homepage apparently believes that the program currently on air is "Saturday Review".
Now to the matter in hand- second homes. We live (full time) in rural Dorset. One by one, the houses in our village are being sold to people with city money who are able to outbid the locals. (Dorset has the worst ratio in the country of house-prices to local wage levels.) It is certainly not true here that houses would stand empty if not bought by second-homers. Moreover as soon as a home is bought by well-off classes, they pour money into them, in extensions and renovations, thus making sure that when they move away again the house is still out of reach of the impecunious local population.
Complain about this postThe people doing this are perfectly nice people, and it would be churlish not to welcome them- but they should be aware that they are part of a regrettable trend.
I'm living in Norway just now...here, 80% of the population has a second home...it is part of the culture that one should go out at the weekend and commune with nature. If you don't, you are considered rather unfit, impractical and dull. As a result, the country has a minister for the outdoors, to help keep the population fit and healthy, and the second homes, which started off in the old days as huts, are built carefully in controlled areas.
Complain about this postWe have a home in Scotland, and 50 out of 52 weeks of the year, it contains visitors to the area who spend their holiday money in the local shops, cafes and hotels. There is very little other work for local people....I still feel guilt in my heart, but my head knows the truth.
Young people can't afford homes in cities either, so we need to build more flexible housing for them...evry new-build needs a basement flat, like here.
I could go on!!!!!!!
Selfish. That is what second home owners are. They deny locals the opportunity to own their own home, put enormous extra pressure on the local public services, such as the NHS and police, and destroy the local community and economy.
Complain about this postMost areas with high levels of second home ownership are economically deprived, and are not improving with the influx of second home owners. Proof that they take and do not add to the local economy.
I live and bring up my family in one of these quaint cottages that Graham suggests that people do not want to live in, and I enjoy it, except for all the neighbours being second home owners. No chance to get to know the neighbours here!
I noted that during Mr Green's long complaint about how unfair many stereotypes of second home owners are, he suggested that one reason why some people couldn't afford a second home is that they had spent all their money on holidays to Torremolinas and Barcelona.
It struck me that a person complaining about the stereotyping of his lifestyle choices really should avoid making disparaging class-based comments on the lifestyle choices of others.
Complain about this postWhat a lovely way of ridding one's self of guilt, by suggesting that you'll buy a house, because it's so small that the locals wouldn't want to! Just because a house is only fit to be a weekend home for him, does not mean that other people would turn their noses up at the idea of having it as their main home. Idiot.
The arrogance of this man was breathtaking.
Complain about this postBoo! to you Graham and Boo! to all your second home owning chums. Don't fool yourself you are the curse of rural communities and your gobsmaking arrogance is part of them problem. If you had any social conscience or any consideration for anyone other than yourself then you would stop and think about what you are doing . If you want to get away from your oh so stressfull job then stay in a hotel or a B&B and contribute to the local economy and community. No matter how much you try to justify it you are damaging your second home community and play a significant part in causing huge social problems. Your house that you so flippantly describe as being unsuitable for young local people starting out in the world is the sort of house that has been lived on a permanent, 365 days of the year basis for generations and your ownership of it means that yet another home (and I mean home not holiday retreat) is unavailable for local people and therefore another nail in the coffin of the village. Soon there will be no villagers left and then you will have no 'quaint and charming locals' to provide character and community to YOUR village and then what will you do?
Complain about this postSTOP and think about the very real and long term problems second home owners are contributing to. And if you still don't care then at least stop complaining that you get a bad press.
Second home owners are parasites, sucking the life out of their hosts. It's not only a rural issue, though. Here in Bath hundreds of city centre properties lie empty for much of the year for the convenience of their temporary occupants who undermine the support for local schools, shops and other community facilites.
Complain about this postJust listened to the 2nd home bloke trying (unsuccessfully by the look of the other comments) to justify his greed.
Complain about this postI personally don't see why anyone can justfy it, if they feel the need to get away for the weekend buy something actually related to leisure... a home is something you clean! If you want to go to the country on the weekends... buy a lodge, tent, boat etc, surely that brings you closer to nature!
Or prehaps a cave, after all that's where self-obsessed old men belong isn't it?!!
How "me me me" was the guy singing the praises of second home ownership. Apart from seriously denying young local people who want to stay in their area, here in North Wales there is an even bigger problem, our language and culture. A living language doing it's very best to hold its own against the rising tide of the English.
These people come from big cities knowing NOTHING of our way of like, culture and values. They come here for the odd weekend, and eventually retire here, draining valuable resources .eg NHS as they get older. They contribute nothing to the local community while blocking the way for local families to start out on the property ladder.
The take take take, in reality contribute very little. If you must come here and take our homes then try your very best to learn our language and support our vibrant culture. Which is SO much richer than yours I hasten to add!!
Complain about this postHere in France, people , sometimes of modest means, own a second home because it has been left to them by a member of the family and cannot be sold due to inheritance laws and difficulties, for example, siblings not able to agree on a sale. In my experience, a number of these are rented out, giving the young at least a chance of staying in their own area. I'm not against the English who buy a second/holiday home in France - they often buy houses that, sadly, we cannot afford to renovate ourselves and would perhaps fall into ruins unless the Mayor of the town or village can buy the property to restore and rent it out. My problem is with those English who don't use French workmen, but import workers from England...
Complain about this postGreed is a sin. Or have some people forgotton that?
Complain about this postI found Graham Green's arguments in favour of second home ownership wholly unconvincing and, quite frankly, pathetic. In this country demand for housing far exceeds supply and yet despite this fact Mr. Green and his ilk are prepared to selfishly grab and monopolise more housing than they genuinely need. In doing so they deny other people even a first home let alone a second, they cause house prices to increase, which again hits less wealthy locals, they undermine local communities and businesses by creating a 'ghost town' atmosphere for most of the year, and they increase the pressure to concrete over yet more of our fast diminishing countryside in order to build more houses.
An example of the last of these negatives was provided by one of the studio guests who naively suggested that it was a positive move when second home owners supported plans to build additional houses for locals in a Dorset village! What bizarre reasoning. Would it not be better to let the locals live in the 'second homes', to not needlessly destroy yet more countryside with new building, and for the erstwhile second home owners to stay in hotels and B&Bs when they wished to visit the area, thus supporting local businesses and employment?
Any political party that advocated placing stringent constraints and restrictions on second home ownership would get my vote.
Complain about this postI am a second home owner, my main home in Gloucestershire is a small 1 bedroom flat and my 2nd home in Devon a small 2 bedroom cottage. I am not rich and earn under the national average wage. It is my pension not having one provided through my employment.
Complain about this postMy second home is occupied by me or other family members most weekends, all bank holiday's (including Christmas and New Year) and all of my annual leave.
Prior to my purchasing the cottage it was a holiday rental owned by a local family who had renovated it from practically derelict and who had no problems excepting my money.
The cottage is located on steep steps with only pedestrian access and no parking within a (very steep) five minuite walk. These houses are not generally used for permanent residence although I do have a few very friendly owner occupier neighbours
Virtually all of our supplies are purchased locally - usually the most we take with us is a pint of milk for a coffee on arrival. All of our Christmas shopping including most presents was done locally. We eat out at local restaurants most weeks.
I run a small car not a gas guzzler and I (and most of my family) do not travel abroad for holidays thus using air travel.
I pay 90% council tax which I consider fair as there are many services I do not use but need supporting. I certainly believe I pay in my fair share.
I would like to say that those with pensionable employment especially those in the public sector who I am providing for in their old age and those who travel abroad for holidays and short breaks thereby causing pollution and in the process taking vast sums of money out of the uk economy, should think twice before having a go at those who try to provide for themselves and invest at home.
In response to the arument that local people cannot buy I can only say that the property pages of the local paper are full of houses for sale at not unreasonable prices. I acknowledge that first time buyers are having a problem but that is the case in most parts of the country and unless all home owners are willing to accept a massive devaluation across the board then the situation will persist.
Well all of the comments so far are very negative so I'd just like to put my point of view.
Complain about this postI am a second home owner. I have a normal job and earn just about the national average wage which although more than some earn definately does not put me in the super rich class.
My second home is my pension investment as I do not have an ocupational scheme and never have had. My main home is a small 1 bedroom flat that I have lived in for 15 years and my second home is small 2 bedroom cottage - I am not some sort of property baron. I have merely invested in two small houses rather than one larger one. The total value of my investment is probably eqivalent tothe value of many a medium sized home in many parts of the country.
The cottage was formerly owned and renovated from a virtually uninhabitable state by a local family who had no problem selling to me or taking my money.
It is located on steep steps with only pedestrian access and although I do have a few permanent residents as neighbours most of my friends in the village prefer to live in more accessible properties.
The cottage is occupied by me or my family most weekends, all bank holidays including Christmas/New Year and a most of our annual leave. 95% of supplies food drink etc are purchased in local shops as the most we normally take down with us is a pint of milk for coffee on arrival. Most of our Christmas presents etc are purchased in local shops or galleries.
I drive a small car and do not take polluting flights for holidays abroad. Money I spend on holiday stays in the local UK economy.
I pay 90% council tax and although we put our rubbish out to be collected every 2/3 weeks and enjoy a street light close to the house I do not use many local services that the tax funds; I am more than prepared to pay towards schools, libraries etc and think the what I pay is fair - If asked to pay the full amount I would but I fail to see why I should pay more.
I cannot help that some people find it difficult to get onto the property ladder - only a massive general devaluation would solve this and I doubt that many who have stuggled to pay a morgage for years would accept this.
So to conclude I do own two places and enjoy as a result pleasant weekends by the coast in a house with some outside space (3.6mx1.2m). If you want to criticise me do, but remember I am trying to provide for my own old age and I would ask you to please think twice if you are fortunate enough to have an occupational pension, particularly if you are in the public sector with provision that I am helping to fund; and if you jet off to holidays in the sun or on short breaks throughout the year, polluting the atmosphere and spending your money in far off places while our own coastal resorts struggle to survive maybe you too could have a look at your lifestyle
Isn't it amazing how some people can lose sight of the reality of others when they are solely concentrated on their own life view? Graham Green's glib defence of the indefensible shows how little he understands or cares for the reality of rural living.
I stand firmly with the vast majority of the views expressed in the comments so far submitted. In West Wales where I live, now that the fishing and farming cottages have been rendered totally unaffordable by a market dominated by property speculators and second home buyers, the only options for first time buyers and many older locals is to rent or to buy dark, damp and pokey flats in rough urban areas or on run down ex-council estates. Would Graham be prepared to do a swap with a local young couple if his twisty staircase is such a problem and the alternatives for locals are so good? I doubt it!
Andrew in his attempt to come up with a positive twist to justify his own second home purchase suggests that it is his pension. Very prudent and forward thinking I am sure. However, what he fails to realise is that all those young people deprived of the opportunity to buy their own property and having to rent for the rest of their lives will never have the benefit of equity in even one home when the pensions are worthless. Andrew will have two. As always, those with money are able to acquire more at the expense of those without.
Three barn conversions have just come on the market near me priced at 拢130K to 拢145K - an almost unheard of low price locally and just about affordable by young couples. Perfect you might say! But no! The Local Planning Authority in their wisdom has called them "investment properties" and imposed an order whereby none of the properties can be inhabited by the same person for more than 4 weeks thereby preventing their use as domestic residences. No doubt they will be bought by fat cats from Cardiff or the other side of Offa鈥檚 Dyke to add to their growing portfolio of investment properties and the chance for three young families to live in Little Haven will have been denied them again.
I noted with initial relief a report in a local paper that Edwina Hart AM, Social Justice Minister, has at last recognised the dire situation regarding the lack of affordable housing in Wales. However, my relief was short lived when the report made it clear that the only action proposed is the construction of 6,500 affordable houses over the next 4 years across the whole of Wales! How many more houses will have been taken out of the market or pushed above the level of affordability by the growing legion of 鈥淏uy to Let鈥 or second home buyers over those 4 years? More than 6,500 I wouldn鈥檛 mind betting!
Where is the social justice in this? If Edwina Hart (or anyone else in authority) really wants to make a difference to the availability of affordable housing in Wales they should stop this madness and impose taxation and other strictures to make such speculation unprofitable. They won鈥檛 though because this country is determined to ensure that property is in the hands of the few and that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Its little wonder that the flow of people leaving the UK is turning into a torrent.
That is my take on things. Am I equally guilty of missing something.
Complain about this postMy life being anomalous from beginning to end, my Second Home In the Country is in Northern Ireland, and my first home is in a medieval French village. My second home near fjords, mountains, lakes and wetlands is rented at 拢2 a week. I used to live there, but the farmer who rented it took me to court for'immorality' (kissing a man in the garden which is invisible from the nearest road, some 300 yards away) and lost his case. He tried to get me out by other means: driving horned cattle into the windows so that they were smashed 'by accident', and by pointing a shotgun at me, I fixed the windows and told him he could shoot me if he liked.
Needless to say, he refused to carry out any repairs on the old stone house, which was built in 1800. Because I was receiving Housing Benefit, the council decreed that my rent could not rise unless and until repairs were carried out. The house was condemned as unfit for habitation. I stayed on, because it is in a beautiful situation and I now hardly ever see my landlord.
Especially since I escaped from Northern Irish awfulness to France, where I have encountered terrific friendliness and acceptance. When my mother, suffering from Dementia, burned her Belfast house (something went on fire on the stove, or maybe it was the toaster), I immediately sold it half-charred for 拢50,000 - the maximum sum one could sell a property for without the tax people being interested. Since I have never been employed, I have never paid tax. This was deliberate: I had no wish to fund in any way a militarist state which had bullied its way around the world and to this day is trying, obscenely, to do the same.
That 拢50,000 bought me a house in France - part of which is 16th century. I live at a strategic point in the village, where almost everyone passes at some time during the week. I don't have a garden, but a beautiful little stoop (mini-terrace) above the street, where I have grown and trained beautiful plants which are the cause of many a conversation.
So I am the reverse of your typical English second-homer. July and August I go to Ireland to escape the heat, and likewise to escape the snow in January and February. I pop back there every now and then - thanks be to Ryanair - because I have four friends there, and it's nice to escape the activity of a French village which most English second-homers would regard as incredibly quiet. In Ireland I can live in silence, surrounded by fields, with a rookery below, and views to the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man and the Mountains of Cumbria. In the other direction I can see the Mountains of Mourne. It is an ideal poetic retreat.
But I prefer my other home. My mother's house is now worth 拢200,000 - but I don't care. I got out of unfriendly, cultureless, mean, sectarian and squalid Northern Ireland when I could, and now bask in the privilege of being a french-speaking, non-heterosexual foreigner in a spectacular part of inland France, where small-farmers are real farmers who make cider and jam and chestnut bread, and keep ducks and hens, grow their own asparagus, bottle their tomatoes, and so on. In Ireland small-farmers are people who use a tractor even to carry a spade, would not dream of growing anything they could eat, buy milk from supermarkets, and certainly wouldn't make cider or jam or anything namby-pamby like that. They prefer the Bible - or the pub.
My nearest vineyard in France makes superb wines in a very small, family way. Some gardens of French second-homers have quince or persimmon trees which bear fruit when they are back in Paris or Toulouse, so their local neighbours are very pleased when I go and collect the fruit. In England, the neighbours would probably call the police.
Ireland's OK for a second home, for you can so easily avoid the arrogant natives, the aggressive drinking culture and the religious oppression of one sort or another. And one can, of course, bring edible supplies from France to keep one going while one is a thousand miles away from one's terroir.
I lock neither of my homes when I am not in residence, in case some wandering homeless person needs a shelter.
Complain about this postANTHONY WEIR
Never mind being a second home owner, try being a mother in a four wheel drive doing the school run; possibly the most hated person on the planet. I could explain why I have this car but it wouldn't make any difference to people's opinions of me. But perhaps if men weren't so agressive when driving women wouldn't feel the need to protect themselves and their children in these vehicles. and what about business men in Range Rovers or noisy high fuel comsumption sports cars, men in american style trucks with no building equipment on board, boys revving engines at traffic lights. OOOH leave us Mums alone, it's a full time job and we don't get paid!
Complain about this postHello again
I take David's point, at least it was put forward in reasonable terms. I cannot say other than I previously stated and that is that I have to invest for my own future, I have no faith in the state providing for me. I did for a few years pay into a private pension - the company involved shall remain nameless; best just to say it was a financial disaster and that I would have been better off lighting the gas cooker with five pound notes. I would return to the fact that I own (or am paying for) two small properties. No doubt if I invested in a single more expensive property - a cute cotswold stone place in one of the nearby villages I would still be open to the comment about forcing prices up and locals out. It would appear I can only win if I buy a box on an estate and even then by paying the market rate am keeping others off the ladder.
Complain about this postIt makes my blood boil when Hobby Country Dwellers say in those sanctimonious tones; "We love it here" as if that justifies their selfishness and blinkered view of the communities they pretend to be members of for a few weekends a year.
They refuse to see the repercussions of their actions for the full-time residents. Local schools who are about to lose teachers because their role is falling due to a lack of young families. Pubs closed. Shops closed. An aging population supplemented by wealthy retirees from the golden triangle. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of lost revenue from decades of 50% council tax. In a village with 20% second homes community activities go under-funded because there is a historic 10% shortfall of revenue. How is that to be made up? Increased tax burden on the whole community?
This country in the last 30 years has slid greedily into the status of a rentier class-ridden wreck where the vacantly possessed talk of little else but their property; price; location; decor etc etc while appalling TV programmes celebrate and applaud their acumen.
Under New Labour we have seen the consolidation of an under-class who are shut out of the security of reasonable access to housing and income. Housing costs for this class must lead to inflation as upward pressure on wages to fund it increases.
Their is a whirlwind to be reaped when Brown's hollow economy goes tits up. The second home owners will no doubt sell up and leave for sunnier climes.
It is time to divorce ourselves from the fixation with property. We need a Land Value tax to stabilise the value of land and rein in the speculators. An empty property tax so that all empty or partially empty property is made into the luxury it clearly is in personal and social terms. I know this is a free country where freedom is defined purely in terms of what you do with your money. But if your spending habit is creating a problem for people that have no affordable home who are spending half their income renting to fund some other speculator's pension, just to get a roof over their head, where is the freedom in that? This is the 21st Century not the 19th!
Yes 'We Love It Here!' So much so that we bloody live here all the time.
Alan Marsden
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