Coronavirus, seaside and the second home

[frillyfucks]

We are lucky enough to own a second home in a coastal area (not cornwall) which is run as part of our business and let out as a holiday home with us and family using it when it's free.

It's part of a barn conversion complex, there are 7 properties and all are either second homes or holiday lets apart from one which is owned by a lady in her 70s, she bought the property four years ago, knowing that the rest of us were all second home owners in some capacity. All properties are accessed through one set of electric gates but sufficiently spaced out so that each have their own car parking area next to their respective property.

We have all kept in contact via our group email, all kept to "the rules" since lockdown - we shut our property up and our lettings company have been doing their "essential" checks on all properties let through them.

This morning an email comes through from the lady who lives there, copying a BBC news link advising that we are not allowed to stay at second homes and also advising the beach car parks are shut. She waffles a bit about the worry of the influx of tourists into the county (and I do completely understand her concern as it is very similar to Cornwall in terms of popularity/small local infrastructure/ not many CV cases etc.) and then goes on to say she had emailed the local MP to lobby him to "shut down" holiday homes and second homes until a vaccine is found.

I think this is going to create quite a lot of bad feeling amongst us, as we will be looking to resume holiday bookings as soon as government guidance says we can, and also go down there ourselves. I presume the other owners will be doing similar from the brief conversations we have had on social media etc.

We as a family have followed the guidance to the letter, I'm on mat leave and my husband is a farmer so he's been practicing social distancing for the majority of his life by vocation - we have been nowhere since our daughter was born at the end of Feb.

AIBU to think that actually, I can go down to the cottage as and when the guidance allows and she can't try to guilt trip us into staying away with no real justification? Technically as it's a business, I could go down there today and check it, but I haven't wanted to as it seems unnecessary travel. My husband and I had discussed driving down there next week for a walk on the beach with the dogs and the kids and then checking on the cottage - all of those things I understand are permitted within the guidelines (providing we don't stay over which we wouldn't) but now this email has come around it seems like that might create some hostility.

with no real justification

How far away do you live?

Well, I tend to think that as it is your property you should be able to go there, just as your own family unit, and not with any other visitors. Social distancing from your neighbours etc.

I wouldn't let it out again for a long time yet though.

I never really did get why people couldn't go and spend lockdown in their own second homes, not associating with anyone else. But that may be just me, and probably plenty will disagree. Just as well that I don't have a second home, unless you count property that is currently tenanted and isn't in touristy locations anyway.

I would just send a polite but firm response that you will resume use of the cottage as and when the guidance allows. And leave it at that.

the MP will ignore her. There may never be a vaccine.

you'll just have to wait until it is decided that restrictions can be lifted without causing collapse of society due to lack of essential workers.

I would just email back and say I will follow the government advice when the government says I can resume taking bookings I will be doing Just that, Best wishes.

She doesn’t have to like it 🤷🏻‍♀️ But all the time you are following government advise there is nothing she or the MP can do

@Topseyt the reason, I believe as I’m not a second home owner either, is that things like hospital capacity are worked out on the number of permanent residents. So if everyone who owns a second home in an area where there are a lot of second homes, like Cornwall, went there the hospitals would quickly become overwhelmed!

In answer to the OP though, I would also respond that you will use your second home when the government guidelines permit it.

If it's within the rules to go and check on it then I would. There has been so many burglaries and especially car thefts around here (lovely countryside village area) so I'd definitely want to check on the place. I'm not sure I'd make it a family outing though.

We live just over an hour away, 68 miles.

I understand why we couldn't isolate there during lockdown, it's a rural community with few hospital facilities and no big supermarkets - I do get that and I support the decision.

@Amatteroftime there is no need for at all. She would be no more at risk than if she had neighbours who were there more often, surely? Unless there is something I'm missing?

It's just that you have said there is no justifiable reason - there is. She may have concerns over how many people will suddenly be in the area, what sort of people (will they be sensible or put themselves at risk and therefore possibly take up emergency service time). I think possibly poor wording as I wouldn't say her worries aren't justified.

Personally if you live 68 miles away, I probably wouldn't go that way at the moment. Nearly 70 miles is quite a distance for a day out.

I do think you are within your rights to let the property out when the government permit it, and perhaps put extra rules in place for those using it just to ensure social distancing is maintained. She can't expect people to not do that. But equally I can understand why she is worried. Nobody plans for a global health pandemic.

As long as you are not in Wales or Scotland you are permitted to go anywhere you like for a day trip. I don't see why you can’t combine that with checking on your business.

She is being unreasonable. Things have to and will go back to normal at some point and she will just have to deal with it. She doesn't have the right to demand things like that.

It's your property. I would politely thank her for her letter and assure her you are following the Government guidelines. If that doesn't fit her plans that is not your fault.

The virus spread horribly in Italy when many Italians decamped from the North and headed South, when they introduced lockdown in the North.

So spreading the virus is one reason people weren’t meant to go to their second homes, but infrastructure is another one. Cornwall has one main hospital, it could not cope with an influx of second home owners.

I can understand the lady being worried but once the restrictions are lifted she can’t really do anything, although I would be mindful of her concerns.

We have a lovely second home by the sea , I'm very tempted to go stay as it's rural and I know we would be able to go for a walk etc without coming across anyone and it has land so would be perfect for us right now(I'm shielding) however those are not the rules so we won't , we have a local gardener that is checking on the house and still doing the grounds, our cleaner for there is furlouged (we are actually still sending her a bit as she's bloody brilliant and more than a cleaner as she does the welcome baskets ext too) , we've had to refund /move to next year many bookings unfortunately and we've actually added an extra day to all that have rebooked for next year for free because it's so crap having to cancel your holiday , so I know how rubbish it is not being able to use your second home and looking income from it however if she's elderly shel be really anxious right now it's scary being in the vulnerable group , try and see it from her point of view just be nice and understanding of you need to check on your house give her a ring as a prewarning might be nice to ask if she needs anything and offer a contact less drop off , it may be worth dropping of flowers on her doorstep and a little more to say that you understand how she's feeling and you will be considerate of her as you move forward x

I just don’t understand this possessiveness “locals” have over “their” towns and villages wrt second home owners. We none of us “own” our land. It’s where we live - meaning we make memories and raise families and perhaps endure generations somewhere. But we don’t OWN that space for it. Unless you own a private island, and are governed only by yourself and are subject only to your own rules - so, basically, nowhere on earth - we all live socially. This comes with upsides and downsides. We can’t just pick and choose which consequences we want.

I understand fear, really I do. But it’s not right to restrict other people because of your own fear.

AIBU to think that actually, I can go down to the cottage as and when the guidance allows

Of course you can do what the law permits - why would you listen to a random neighbour instead of the government?

It sounds like perhaps she's feeling anxious and vulnerable and hasn't considered how her email might be received - does she have much in the way of support where she is if all the properties surrounding her are empty?

Of course you can go when it’s ok.

But if she is in her 70s she is high risk and may be feeling scared - sounds like she lives alone?