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

[benadrylcucumberpatch]

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?

Most of the houses in the street I live in were either empty or holiday homes (mine was too before I bought it). I preferred it like that as I didn’t have to listen to other peoples shite music or constantly have my drive obstucted. Now over the years they are all occupied (sold or rented out) and I’ve had some dreadful neighbours 😭

In Cornwall holiday homes are a massive problem as there is a shortage of homes in some towns.

If there were no holiday homes, Cornwall would have an even bigger problem as it's economy would collapse as it's pretty much reliant on the tourist industry.

There needs to be a balance, and a lot of that is the responsibility of the local councils.

100% agree. No-one should have a second home. NO-ONE.

When I see documentaries about landlords and tenants on TV, and landlords lose 1000s of pounds in lost rent on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th house that they charge £800 a month for, I feel a MASSIVE sense of schadenfreude.

Same when babyboomers get ripped off for £50K that they put into a fake investment, in the hope that they can double the money.

Greedy feckers get their just desserts eventually.

I even saw a programme the other week, where a man had lost £33K in a bank scam, and he said 'I was lucky they didn't manage to get access to my other 3 savings accounts. Turns out the £33K one had the LEAST money in. The other 3 had £99K, £45K, and £250K in. He also had THREE properties - in London and Brighton - that he let out, for £2000 to £3000 a month.

Where the hell these people get their money from, I have no idea! Inheritance, lottery win? Gold-plated final-salary-pension?! Fuck knows. It usually isn't through sheer hard work though. Me and DH, and many people I know, have worked solidly for 3 or 4 decades, and barely have a pot to piss in, as we have only ever been able to 'just about manage.'

But yep, I hate greedy feckers who own multiple properties, and have 100s of 1000s of pounds floating around in half a dozen bank accounts. And it makes me smile when they try to make more money, and get ripped off!

I know that makes me sound like a jealous, bitter, old curmudgeon.

It's probably because I am, and I have a right to be, because I have never had a single lucky break financially EVER. (Neither has DH!) People around me seem to get inheritance after inheritance, and always have tons of money to spare. And the 'gold-plated, final salary pension feckers' go on big costly cruises twice a year, and think nothing of gifting their (adult) children £50K towards a house.

And before you say 'well some people clearly had to lose a loved one to get the inheritance!' I have lost both parents, and all my grandparents, and DH has lost all his too, and they were all poor, and we never got fuck-all.

We barely manage to get past £1000 in savings in the bank, before something comes and eats it up. Also, DH works in a job where he doesn't get paid if he's off, so he scared to be sick as we will go under financially!

So yeah, I DO love it when people with too much money lose it through greed.

And yeah, you will probably call me a nasty, bitter, cunt.

You will probably be right.

@Kazzyhoward

Yes you are right, we do need the tourist industry and holiday homes, but with restrictions. Some resources are not infinite like roads and hospitals too many people cause problems. Our hospital has a warning saying how busy they are and it’s not even August, the Coast Guard and Air Ambulance helicopters are flying over everyday and last year the police were restricting numbers driving into some small beach towns. I know it’s not all to do with holiday homes but too many people is a big problem.

Foreign owned empty homes are such a problem here that we now have a Tax (Empty Homes Tax) Our housing market slowed and dropped somewhat because of this & more scrutiny on money laundering in the local real estate industry, but it's still far out of reach of most locals.

Ever since we had Expo in '86, house prices have been rising and most locals are priced out of the market - for example, my inlaw's house sold for $180 thousand in 1985 and would now sell for over 4 Million.

Many houses and condos sit empty. Neighbourhood populations are down, city schools and businesses are impacted. Locals have to live miles away and commute long distances. It's bad for the city as a whole.

The house next to us was empty from 2012 till this past March (because of the tax threat), when it was turned into single room housing + 1 Airbnb suite - about 10 people live there now. Our street parking has been a little crowded but separate groups in a house seem to be quieter than a family, luckily.

The tax doesn't impact holiday homes of people that own their primary here and a cabin elsewhere - just within the city and some suburbs.

Depends on what type of property. "Holiday homes" are usually something that are designed for a temporary stay, usually in summer, totally unsuitable for a full-time living as a household.Regular houses and flats that will sit empty - that's another story and I agree with OP.

I agree, I think that even if making villages into ghost towns isn't a reason enough, pushing the house prices up in the local area is maddening (see my username 🙄 )

I think the 2nd home thing is a red-herring - that's not the issue, the issue is far more fundamental than that.

Cornwall is one of the poorest areas in the country and in fact in Northern Europe - 2nd houses are the least of its worries IMO.

I think the issues being raised here about some people being wealthy enough to buy a holiday home is more about inequality than it is about the actual purchase of a 2nd home.

user1491678180
feeling better after your rant?
If you were spending your energy in working instead of hating people you are jealous of, you would end up a lot better financially. It does take efforts though, so I guess it's easier to blame everybody else.

Holiday homes are a huge problem in many communities for reasons beyond house price rises. Schools, bus services, local clubs, post offices, local shops (that sell things other than what tourists would be buying) dentists, vets and GP practices end up closing because there aren't enough people using the services, so the locals end up having to travel for those things or do without.

Having lots of homes owned by people who don't actually live there ruins whole communities, and letting it out to tourists or using the second home often makes no difference. Buying a second home is perfectly legal etc, but it is wrong that rural areas are being turned into playgrounds for the wealthy* rather than real living, working communities. And it is wrong that our tax system doesn't try to mitigate the effects of this.

(*And yes, anyone who can afford a second home is definitely wealthy)

I'm interested to know how someone would justify the latter? Surely its simply greed?

I grew up in an area with lots of holiday homes and I think it provided a lot of local work for gardeners, cleaners, housekeepers etc

I had a weekend job mucking out stables for a rich family who came down to stay in their holiday house every few weeks, and there was a full time groom employed for the rest of the time.
They also had a team of people to 'open up' the house before they arrived.

I've also seen how much they would spend in local pubs - the £100 bottles of wine on the wine list weren't there for the locals to buy..!

I guess if a local family lived their permanently, they would be looking after their own animals, mowing their own lawn etc and those jobs wouldn't exist, nor would the free house for the groom that went with the job.

Personally, I can't get my head around anyone wanting to take on the hassle of a second home, but I don't think they are are universally negative for communities

@user1491678180 Luck is how you see and react to the world, surely? No, we’ve never had a penny in inheritance either. Never had a generous wedding settlement from our parents. What we have we’ve earned.
Your jealousy will only make you unhappy.

WhenOneFacePalmDoesntCutIt

Your comment says far worse about you than user1491678180.

Working hard and/or a lot doesn't always equal wealth. I know lots of people who work incredibly hard but feel like user. It isn't always as easy as putting in more effort.

Although that of course is not the fault of those people who have done well financially. It's down to underpaid jobs and shitty governments not understanding what it actually costs to live.

gingerbreadsprinkle
bitterness and jealousy only hurts you, not the ones you are jealous of...

Your jealousy will only make you unhappy.

You do know what goes around comes around? How will people like you feel when multi-millionaires from Asia, Russia, and the Middle East start pricing out the English full stop and say the same in return?

Blimey User, you sure are bitter.

How on earth can you 'hate' people because of their money? There is a lot more to a person than what they have in the bank or in the way of property they own. Lots of those who are well off are really nice, kind considerate and they appreciate what they have. They often do generous things quite discreetly.

No one should have to feel guilty about monetary wealth. They will still experience bad times, just not financial difficulties.

@WhenOneFacePalmDoesntCutIt

feeling better after your rant user1491678180?

If you were spending your energy in working instead of hating people you are jealous of, you would end up a lot better financially. It does take efforts though, so I guess it's easier to blame everybody else.

Do you have problem with comprehension? Or just reading in general?

I never said I don't WORK? I have always worked, for nearly 40 fucking years actually, and so has DH.

HE is the one who is in a job where he doesn't get paid if he is off. I do fortunately.

And no I DON'T feel better after my rant. Still a bitter old cow who hates fucking everyone (almost!)

@CherryPavlova

Congratulations on your great financial position, even though you have never been given anything. Whoop whoop! 👍🏽

@gingerbreadsprinkle Thank you.

Nobody works harder than health care workers who earn a pittance. It really pisses me off that MN believes hard work = affluence when it’s so demonstrably untrue.

Now many second homes are being taxed at double rate council tax, there is nothing preventing you from asking your councillors to raise the tax on holiday homes if you feel strongly about this issue

tenbob If more local families lived there, then various services would still be required, and business would locate themselves there. The jobs created would likely pay more than gardening or cleaning work. E.g. more GPs, more teachers etc

@Rachelover40

Blimey user, you are bitter!

What's your point luv?

I SAID I am. And I KNOW I am. So jog on.

bitterness and jealousy only hurts you, not the ones you are jealous of...

I'm never jealous of twats, oh and my family has more money than yours so try again. I'm that scary overseas investor! Foreigner ahhhhhhh!!!

We have terrible wealth inequality in this country. If someone has worked for their money, then fair enough, but there are an awful lot of rich people who don't know the meaning of a day's work. user1491678180 is right to be upset

What about “buy to let” and landlords owning multiple properties to rent out?