Second home owners... what are you doing about your property?

You might not want a debate about it but you can't control what people comment.
Do you not feel shit that you have a property being left empty?

Maybe you should dispose of one of your homes, you don't need two.

Or maybe you could invite someone without one home, let alone two, to move it and keep an eye for you.

I can imagine how worried you must be. Do you have anyone nearby who can check externally for you. Do you have contact details for your neighbours?

In a similar position. I’ve left the heating on a very low setting, hopefully enough to prevent any burst pipes, damp etc.. A neighbour has a key and pops her head around the door once a week to make sure all is ok. Is there anyone local to your property who could keep an eye on it OP?

Could you employ a local company to go in and check on it, give it a clean and set the heating to come on for a couple of hours a day to prevent damp?

The previous suggestion to dispose of it is hilarious. I'm sure the OP will want to use it again in the future when it's possible.

Jeez

I thought you were allowed to travel to a property to carry out essential maintenance. It certainly was the case in the first lockdown.

Do you not use a cleaner? They’d be worth their weight in gold in this exact situation. Even if the house isn’t dirty, an extra pair of eyes every couple of weeks would save you worrying.

ours is a flat so less of an issue - but haven't picked up post each and no heating on at all.
we were mulling over asking(read paying) local estate agent to check in for us- as realistically it will be another month before we can go.

My friend had a similar problem she wrote a letter to the neighbours asking them to give her a ring then when they had a chat she posted a key to them so the could check in on it and turn the heating on every now and again

@SpaceRaiders good idea.

really helpful comment

Is your water turned off?

How far away is the property? Is it reasonable to travel to check and turn off water etc, make it safe etc? I think essential travel covers things like this. Obviously not if it’s abroad.

Can you get hive installed?

We turn our heating on there for an hour a day from our homes!

You could arrange it to be installed and go for the day? I would say that’s essential travel!

You might want to check your insurance policy for restrictions on what temp you have to leave it or drain the pipes

Maybe you should dispose of one of your homes, you don't need two.

Green eyed monster never a good look.

Something festering in the fridge won’t be too bad. Most you’d need a new fridge.

I think you need to check the property. Set something up going forward. But as long as you don’t see anyone or mix. There and back in the same day.

I think you can go and check on it, seems to me that would be essential travel. Police may disagree.

So not only do they have the crap and inconvenience of living next to a 2nd home but they are expected to be caretakers free of charge.

Unbelievable.

Slightly different since it's a business but we're visiting every 45 days or the property insurance becomes invalid. In the interim our gardener and neighbours keep an eye on it.

We've been closed by Drakeford since October so it's been a long time now.