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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that owning a second home to use as a holiday home is extremely selfish?

840 replies

benadrylcucumberpatch · 17/07/2019 13:26

It would be a different story if there was a surplus of vacant properties . As it stands holiday home owners turn communities into ghost towns, inflate prices in desirable areas (many of which are rural with low wages) and displace people who would live in the property full time.

Aibu to think this is selfish and reprehensible? Why are such people not villified for taking more than they need in such an extreme way?

OP posts:
LondonJax · 17/07/2019 15:26

I agree @lakeswimmer. It's a question of balance. After all, the cleaner or the restaurant staff possibly wouldn't have a job without the holiday home but equally wouldn't have a house if it were all holiday homes in the area.

I'm not sure what the answer is but, as you pointed out, making some buildings 'local residents only' as far as sales are concerned would go a long way. That way the holiday homes currently on offer would be available but locals would have somewhere to live.

It's like my area. We have a local family who buy umpteen houses in new developments then rent them out (not holiday homes 'proper' rentals). The problem with that is that they fuel a demand for more housing at a price that our local children will never be able to afford. Local builders know 'if they build, they (the family) will come' so the prices inflate accordingly.

Rachie1973 · 17/07/2019 15:28

I rent in Essex. It’s very expensive. I bought a house in Norfolk to retire in eventually with an inheritance.

We used to rent it out but to be honest I’ve had nightmare tenants, so for the last year it’s been used as a holiday home for us and an air b n b for the height of season.

It’s our retirement home, and I feel no guilt in leaving it empty, or topping up my pension with high season bonuses. We pay council tax, tv licence etc on it and get in brilliantly with our local community.

Eliza9919 · 17/07/2019 15:31

PositiveVibez Wed 17-Jul-19 13:52:49
If she has a holiday home that nobody lives in for most of the year, or regents it out at a profit to holiday renters, the increased value of that house makes it nigh on impossible for 'natives' to purchase property there. Upshot being they have to move out of their communities to accommodate holiday makers.

This goes on everywhere though. People in London can't afford to buy there so move out to other areas. This pushes prices up and locals can't buy where they are from and have to move on. The locals in East Kent/Shoreditch on Sea have a big issue with DfL's - Down from London atm.

PizzaTaste · 17/07/2019 15:32

Mumsnet members do not like people to have money do they?

lakeswimmer · 17/07/2019 15:33

I think one of the difficulties with planning and housing policy is there are variations even within the same area. The situation even 15 or 20 miles away from where I live is totally different but meanwhile there are cleaning and hospitality vacancies which can't be filled because there aren't enough locals to do them.

Branleuse · 17/07/2019 15:35

I think in some areas this can be a real problem, but I fail to see how its a problem if someone buys a cheap holiday home in france or spain etc that they are planning on using regularly. These houses often sit empty for years and years otherwise

Spidey66 · 17/07/2019 15:36

*If people stay in hotels, guest houses and B&Bs they help the local economy. Holiday let types and second home owners arrive with everything they need and spend little when they get there.

I find that difficult to believe. What's the point in going to a different part of the country just to stay in a different house the whole time? Of course people choose to go to local restaurants and days out, it's the whole point of being on holiday. May as well stay at home otherwise!!!!

Genevieva · 17/07/2019 15:37

@Herocomplex I agree that something like that would be a good idea. Or we need to have restrictions so that only people who are resident in the UK and / or UK citizens can own domestic property here. Denmark have restrictions preventing people who are not resident in Denmark from owning holiday homes there. It can be done.

lakeswimmer · 17/07/2019 15:39

What's the point in going to a different part of the country just to stay in a different house the whole time? Of course people choose to go to local restaurants and days out, it's the whole point of being on holiday. May as well stay at home otherwise!!!!

Lots of people can't afford to eat out - we're a family of five and it's a very rare treat for us. If we go on holiday it's either to see the scenery or to visit places of interest - museums etc.

IncandescentShadow · 17/07/2019 15:40

CalamBalam And remember, in oh-so-socialist Scandinavia and Russia, having a holiday home is normal and achievable for most people. And they aren't all tiny cabins in the woods.

Not sure of your point here? They're clearly running things well if most people can achieve a holiday home. Because it implies people can afford a main residence to begin with...

EH? I know homelessness is on the rise, but that isn't the point of this thread. I'm sure you aren't suggesting that having a "main residence" as you put it isn't the norm in the UK. I am pointing out that its considered quite normal and not at all offensive in most parts of the world, including socialist Scandinavia, to have a holiday or weekend home. It doesn't mean you have to OWN your "main residence" (Although all the Scandinavians I know do) and further offend socialist principles. Even many Russians in the Soviet Union still had their stugas...same principle, while you might either own or rent your one bedroom flat in the town or city where you work, its nice to have somewhere to escape to at weekends.

groundanchochillipowder · 17/07/2019 15:40

I'd have a holiday home in a flash. I don't think it's selfish and I'm jealous of people who can afford it.

Butterflyone1 · 17/07/2019 15:40

Honestly some of these threads baffle me...! It seems like MN users hate people who have money. Jealous is such an ugly trait.

I have zero issues with owning a holiday home however I wouldn't bother owning one in the UK. I've been looking at Italy or Spain. If I can afford it then why not?

I will be employing someone local to clean and manage the property so surely that's a good thing for locals?

LondonJax · 17/07/2019 15:42

If people stay in hotels, guest houses and B&Bs they help the local economy. Holiday let types and second home owners arrive with everything they need and spend little when they get there.

Well we don't! We're off on holiday for a week very soon in the UK. I've checked where the nearest supermarket is so we'll stop on the way to pick up the essentials plus something for breakfast. I've booked a table at a local restaurant recommended on Trip Adviser. I've got a small list of other restaurants or take away places in the area in case we can't find where they are when we arrive.

We'll get lunches when we're out and we'll either do a quick shop for whatever we want for dinner on the way home each day or we'll use another restaurant or take away.

We drove 7 hours to the holiday home we rented last year in Cornwall. It was during that heatwave we had. I'm certainly not taking food in the car with us for the week for that length of drive in that heat!

lakeswimmer · 17/07/2019 15:44

I will be employing someone local to clean and manage the property so surely that's a good thing for locals?

As I've previously said...only if the people cleaning and managing the property have somewhere to live and haven't been priced out by high housing costs due to people buying holiday homes. Otherwise you might find having a holiday home a PITA!

gingerbreadsprinkle · 17/07/2019 15:47

I wonder if natives of this country become completely priced out by overseas investors as time goes on, do the foreigners get to taunt them and just call them jealous? Or better yet... Blame them for not preparing in advance? I'm not sure why it's ok if you're from London but not Moscow.

groundanchochillipowder · 17/07/2019 15:47

I hate staying in non-chain hotels and much prefer a cottage or house to hire.

Kazzyhoward · 17/07/2019 15:48

There isn't but there aren't that many new build developments in the rural areas we are talking about.

Which brings us back to the real problem - not enough new houses being built.

CalamBalam · 17/07/2019 15:50

I am pointing out that its considered quite normal and not at all offensive in most parts of the world, including socialist Scandinavia, to have a holiday or weekend home.

I get that.

But obviously there's going to be less resentment over holiday homes in countries where there aren't such massive disparities between rich and poor. Anyone can see that. I'm sure if Swedish people were told 'you can't buy or rent a house in your home village because people from Stockholm have bought up all the housing stock as holiday homes' there'd be a different take on the situation.

Rachelover40 · 17/07/2019 15:51

PizzaTaste
Mumsnet members do not like people to have money do they?

Some don't, I daresay that's the case in real life too. Yet most people have at least a little spare money when they get older, why should anyone resent that? They may have been really hard up when they were younger.

Spidey66
*If people stay in hotels, guest houses and B&Bs they help the local economy. Holiday let types and second home owners arrive with everything they need and spend little when they get there.

I find that difficult to believe. What's the point in going to a different part of the country just to stay in a different house the whole time? Of course people choose to go to local restaurants and days out, it's the whole point of being on holiday. May as well stay at home otherwise!!!!

...

Quite agree. I've stayed in loads of holiday cottages over the years, also a caravan and a chalet, thoroughly enjoyed doing so and going to cafes, restaurants and having days out is part of the holiday. It can be expensive for people with children though so having the option of really self catering is good. We used to barbecue sometimes.

I never resented anyone for owning the places where I stayed ! They provided a service and deserved to be paid reasonably for it. We don't resent people who own hotels or guest houses, do we?

bumblingbovine49 · 17/07/2019 15:52

I don't really see why its acceptable for city dwellers' children to be priced away from their families but not fair if it happens to people who live in tourist spots?

This. I was born and brought up in Central London but no way could I afford to buy there even with a reasonably good job. I had to move away to work. Why the hell is it OK for me to have to do it but not someone who lives in a small village? In fact people who grow up in a small village can move to city as they are more likely to find better paid work there anyway and save, then maybe in a few years they could afford a house in the part of the world they came from.

I will never be able to afford to buy a property where I grew up, even though other members of my family all live there. At least people from cheper parts of the country have some chance to go back there is they move for work for a few years when they are young.

BlatheringOn · 17/07/2019 15:52

LondonJax Agreed. We rent self-catering in the UK because we like lots of room and have a dog, but I don't want to cook or it would be just like home so we eat out for every meal except tea and toast when we wake up.

CaptainMyCaptain · 17/07/2019 15:53

I agree with you.

lakeswimmer · 17/07/2019 15:55

I was born and brought up in Central London but no way could I afford to buy there even with a reasonably good job. I had to move away to work. Why the hell is it OK for me to have to do it but not someone who lives in a small village

It's not OK. That's why we need a mix of housing in all areas; affordable rented, open market purchase, housing for locals etc.

Eliza9919 · 17/07/2019 15:57

Zaphodsotherhead Wed 17-Jul-19 14:05:05
My friend has a 'weekend cottage' (which, in my opinion is different from a 'holiday home'). She bought it because she lives in her partner's house and she wanted to keep a little property in her own name, just in case the relationship went wrong. So it's more of an emergency bolt hole, which I think is quite sensible.

This is a good point about 2nd home ownership. What about women that owned their own home and then met and married someone with their own home so they then end up with two. Should the woman sell her house and lose a back-up asset or should she let a man move in and contribute to her payments, therefore maybe able to claim a stake in the property?

This hatred on here of anyone that wants to invest in property is ridiculous.

groundanchochillipowder · 17/07/2019 15:57

Well, we don't eat out every meal and we hire out self-catering homes and cottages. We do it on the cheap to get a holiday in the UK. We got to Lidl or Aldi and eat in and do cheap activities like rambling or going to free attractions or using our National Trust membership, so sue me. It's cheaper than bloody B&Bs or guest houses or hotels and you can come and go as you please.