If you're from Cornwall, how do you personally feel about tourists and second home owners?

[Beerlovingwalker]

Genuinely curious really, as an outsider that loves Cornwall.

On the one hand, it must be nice to know that so many people love the beauty of your county and I'm sure it's nice to share it. However, it also must be difficult to adjust from living fairly quietly in the Autumn/winter months, to suddenly have to share your space with so many million tourists and second home owners in the summer.

[quote Jellybabiesforbreakfast]@Tealightsandd. But we don't feel the same outrage about London boltholes, apparently.[/quote]
It's either ok to have a second home, or its not ok. Whether London or Cornwall or anywhere else. Double standards most definitely are not ok.

@Pinkearedcow

If a local wanted to buy it they could have but they didn’t want to buy a doer upper so we have it

The locals probably couldn't afford the purchase price as well as the funds to do it up due to low wages and property prices artificially inflated by second home owners.

Personally, I think second homes should be subject to a very high council tax.

In my case this house had been on the market for 8 months at a cheap price compared to the others in this area. From what the estate agent told us no one wanted to take it or if they did they wanted loads knocked off the price. We paid what the owner asked for. Not my fault if they couldn’t afford the renovation sadly the house is being bought as a future retirement property.

@CornishTiger and how long do incomes need to live in Cornwall before they are allowed to suggest changing anything? A year, a generation? Does having the right skin colour make a difference?

BOTH missing the point! Tell me how villages survive with no public transport, no school, no shop, because all of those have had to close because of second homers? Let me guess - in London, you don't have to walk eight miles to the nearest shop, the nearest school, the nearest public transport? Try it sometime. Because this thread isn't about London house prices, it's about second homeowners in rural areas.

No you are missing the point, it's not a problem restricted to Cornwall. It's an issue throughout the country. In Hackney they are actually looking at merging some schools as they are now undersubscribed. Outer London doesn't have the same public transport provision as inner areas. Regardless of close your local affordable shop is the impact is the same!

I do feel a bit for people in Cornwall, because it's a fairly nice place, (although somewhat overrated as some posters have said,) so it attracts visitors like bees around flowers in the Spring and Summer, and the infrastructure/roads can't handle it.

And it must be infuriating to have people buying second homes, and pushing up the property prices, so people originally from there can't afford to live there.

I actually genuinely think that NOBODY should be allowed to buy a second home. It's a piss take when many people can never afford to buy a property, and many people are priced out of certain areas. (Just my opinion before I get jumped on!)

I live in an area that attracts a lot of tourists in the Spring and Summer, but fortunately, I live 'off the beaten track' in a village that people don't usually come to unless they live here (because it goes nowhere, except into fields...) So I'm not affected by it much. And our roads are much better than Cornwall's. Theirs are very winding and narrow, and not conducive to masses of traffic.

But even here, some people have sold their £1.3 million London home (that they paid £200,000 for some years ago,), and bought a 3 bed detached for £650,000. Again, pushing the prices up, making it unaffordable for people who grew up here.

I do agree with previous posters though, that the people selling the properties to 'incomers,' especially those buying a second home, are as complicit in the problem, as the 'outsiders' who are buying the properties. They're all greedy, materialistic money-grabbers.

@Tealightsandd

The same issue has badly affected born and bred Londoners for years. Second homes and bolt holes pricing out locals, away from family and support networks.

Even worse, many of the London second homes aren't even used at all. Not even for an annual holiday. They're left empty all year round. In London - where there's more rough sleepers and homelessness than anywhere else in the UK.

It's wrong, when so many have no home at all. It's wrong in London and it's wrong in Cornwall.

This. ^ Happens in places other than Cornwall for sure.

As has been said, (by quite a few,) I can't see the attraction with Cornwall really. Although it's nice enough to look at, the people are very unfriendly and hostile (some may say understandably,) the roads are awful, there are very few decent schools and colleges, or career opportunities, and it MILES away from anywhere. It take hours and HOURS to get to most places in the UK. Not somewhere I'd want to even visit tbh, let alone live...

This thread is one of the saddest threads I’ve read In a while and makes me grateful I don’t go on holiday to Devon or Cornwall

the people in the Lakes don't like second home owners either. Why do you need a house there? Just pay for local accommodation when you visit.

I do understand to some extent why people buy second homes because savings rates are so rubbish and stocks and shares too volatile, so making an income from a holiday home is attractive in comparison (though a lot of work) but just having a second home to use 3 weekends a year is ludicrous when you could stay somewhere luxurious on a temporary basis.

I wish there were more financial disincentives and legal restrictions to second home ownership. I agree second homes damage communities. Air BnB is also pretty shit - look at what has happened in Edinburgh for a good example.

I can't see the attraction with Cornwall really

Me neither. Unless you fly to Newquay, you have to pass through Devon, so why bother going any further

Second homes can only be bought if locals sell to outsiders. Unfortunately, the lure of money means the locals are contributing to the problem. I think it’s a real shame. My father was thinking of buying property in the Lake District but didn’t in the end for the same reason. He bought a holiday lodge in the end; insanely expensive for what it is and certainly not as good an investment.

The thing is the residents of Cornwall who sell their homes to second homeowners are more likely than not going to be aware of who they’re selling to. But they obviously don’t give a flying fig - it’s all about the money. So the people who are actually living in Cornwall, who want to make it easier for their own, should stop selling to others who are going to make it their second home. Problem solved.

@Livelovebehappy

The thing is the residents of Cornwall who sell their homes to second homeowners are more likely than not going to be aware of who they’re selling to. But they obviously don’t give a flying fig - it’s all about the money. So the people who are actually living in Cornwall, who want to make it easier for their own, should stop selling to others who are going to make it their second home. Problem solved.

This is a form of victim blaming IMO, you can;t ask those who are financially weaker to forego an opportunity when opportunitiesa re so scarce and our society increasingly unequal.

What we need are tax and legal structures to be overhauled.

@poppycat10

This thread is one of the saddest threads I’ve read In a while and makes me grateful I don’t go on holiday to Devon or Cornwall

the people in the Lakes don't like second home owners either. Why do you need a house there? Just pay for local accommodation when you visit.

I do understand to some extent why people buy second homes because savings rates are so rubbish and stocks and shares too volatile, so making an income from a holiday home is attractive in comparison (though a lot of work) but just having a second home to use 3 weekends a year is ludicrous when you could stay somewhere luxurious on a temporary basis.

Not that it’s anyone’s business but it’s being used as a holiday home till my mum retires then she’s moving there. Also as for local accommodation we have 3 dogs and most places won’t take them . Not putting them in kennels so we take them with us. Well be going there pretty much every weekend for the first year to do it up. Everyone’s different though. I live 2 hours away from the lakes so it will definitely get used.

@MoonCatcher

I love the Cornish people who complain that a) second home owners leave their homes empty for months of the year and b) live in them during lockdown

Oh well the whole "we've only got one hospital (not true) and you're all covid-shedders from London (also not true) and how dare you come down here to make sure pipes haven't burst during the winter nonsense was exactly that. Reporting people for visiting their second homes was outrageous. People can choose where they want to spend lockdown and the local police were pathetic too. Hampshire police were really hands off during lockdown, Devon & Cornwall police (along with Derbyshire) made themselves look stupid.

However, that doesn't change my views about second home ownership being unethical.

FWIW, I think there's a difference between e.g. someone doing up an outbuilding and turning it into a holiday let, and someone buying a property that could be a family home, or a home for a young couple starting out and becoming a holiday let.

But what about people with families, who, even if they would all fit in, have saved up and looked forward to their holiday all year and don’t really want to rough it in somebody’s tiny converted shed?

It really does sound like a lot of people in touristy areas would prefer outsiders to just wire them a lot of free money to help keep their local economy healthy, but not put them to the inconvenience of actually coming to visit.

I'm in south Devon and frankly I'd love to get rid of both. Both strangle the life out of communities. This weekend alone I have had more than 5 run ins with non locals - refusing to reverse their cars length into a pull in so I could get past with a trailer with livestock in. People being asked not to feed my horses over the gate. A hit and run with someone knocking my wing mirror off my parked car. Being blocked in on my land by walkers for hours who had parked across my gate. And then there's the bloody cyclists!

I'm done with them. I work bloody hard to keep a roof over my head which is insanely high. I lost 4hours of paid business due to being blocked in which I cannot afford.

So I no tourists and second home owners are not welcome. Please do not come to Devon.

You’re unusual (and lucky) in living somewhere in the West Country and not being in any way reliant on tourists. You don’t necessarily have to work in any kind of tourist industry to still be very reliant on it. Suppose you’re a car mechanic and you only ever get trade from locals – how many of those locals couldn’t even afford to run a car if they didn’t make their livelihood from tourists? Same with any trade or industry, really.

It sounds like you’ve encountered some selfish, unpleasant people who happen to be tourists – unfortunately, that’s the kind of people they are anywhere - not just when they’re on holiday.

I'm on the Devon and Cornwall border. Dreading the summer as a 'normal one' is busy enough as it is and it takes an age to get to work following caravans and campers. Many locals will avoid the beaches and tourist places till it calms down.

I live in the West Midlands and it frequently takes ages to get anywhere on ‘our’ extensive motorway network, because people from all across the country clog them up and refuse to just leave them for us to use. What’s sauce for the goose….

What about the 2nd/3rd home owners letting out to students in university towns charging excessive rents and the houses are usually very shabby

I paid £500 for a room about 16 yrs ago, 4 of us in there in total with the lounge as an additional bedroom. The landlord was shocking

@littlepattilou

I do feel a bit for people in Cornwall, because it's a fairly nice place, (although somewhat overrated as some posters have said,) so it attracts visitors like bees around flowers in the Spring and Summer, and the infrastructure/roads can't handle it.

And it must be infuriating to have people buying second homes, and pushing up the property prices, so people originally from there can't afford to live there.

I actually genuinely think that NOBODY should be allowed to buy a second home. It's a piss take when many people can never afford to buy a property, and many people are priced out of certain areas. (Just my opinion before I get jumped on!)

I live in an area that attracts a lot of tourists in the Spring and Summer, but fortunately, I live 'off the beaten track' in a village that people don't usually come to unless they live here (because it goes nowhere, except into fields...) So I'm not affected by it much. And our roads are much better than Cornwall's. Theirs are very winding and narrow, and not conducive to masses of traffic.

But even here, some people have sold their £1.3 million London home (that they paid £200,000 for some years ago,), and bought a 3 bed detached for £650,000. Again, pushing the prices up, making it unaffordable for people who grew up here.

I do agree with previous posters though, that the people selling the properties to 'incomers,' especially those buying a second home, are as complicit in the problem, as the 'outsiders' who are buying the properties. They're all greedy, materialistic money-grabbers.

I actually genuinely think that NOBODY should be allowed to buy a second home. It's a piss take when many people can never afford to buy a property, and many people are priced out of certain areas. (Just my opinion before I get jumped on!)

But how would that even work? What about people who live in one part of the country with their family and one partner ends up working somewhere else for months at a time. And if the solution to that is to rent a place for one of the partners then....

What about the need for rental properties for different parts of society? Who gets to own these?

What about people who want to live several months at a time in different parts of the country? (this is probably a smallish group at the moment but if working from home increases then it could become more popular)

If you work say, in London from Mon-Thurs, but you want to spend Thursday night to Monday morning out of the city, or have your kids grow up out of the city then you are genuinely living in more than one place. You live in two homes.

some people have sold their £1.3 million London home (that they paid £200,000 for some years ago,), and bought a 3 bed detached for £650,000. Again, pushing the prices up, making it unaffordable for people who grew up here

Swings and roundabouts. Many people move to London from the rest of the UK, buy a house or flat, pushing up the pricing, making it unaffordable for Londoners.

Lots of the people selling up in London and moving to Devon or Cornwall or wherever are simply moving back out of London (sometimes this is back home, in the case of those originally from Devon or Cornwall or the Lakes)

I've lived in Cornwall my whole life. I have no problem with tourists, though occasionally you do get some who seem to forget people do actually live here. I also have no problem with people coming here to live full time. I have children from two different fathers and both fathers are 'incomers'. I don't use that term in real life by the way!

I do have a problem with second home owners and houses being bought up in beautiful old sea side towns like Looe and especially Polperro to be holiday homes and air b&b's. Walking through Polperro especially annoys me because it's basically nothing but holiday homes. And Looe is where my paternal family come from, some of whom built houses there. I probably couldn't even afford to stay in one of the holiday homes 😂 I'll probably never afford to buy a home here at all. And so many sit empty most of the year.

[quote CornishTiger]@Fifthtimelucky no issue with that. It’s the ones that strip family homes, dodge business council tax and don’t pay for waste collection pretending it’s all domestic I have issues with.[/quote]
Thanks. I don't pay business council tax. It's normal council tax (admittedly only band A).

I know some of my neighbours pay business council tax (which is nil) because they let their properties. They have to make it available for a minimum period of time, and I gather that the rules on this have recently been tightened up.

I'm retired now, so hope to spend a lot of time in Devon myself and don't want to let to strangers.

I live in Cornwall.

I don’t mind tourists. And I actively enjoy many of the things that the local tourism brings. We love going up to the Scarlet for the day to use the spa, or spending a night somewhere like Paul Ainsworth’s rooms in Padstow. And we love to camp, so we make plenty of use of Cornwall’s campsites through the year too.

But I do mind OVER-tourism.

There are times when quite a lot of Cornwall struggles to cope with the sheer volume of people, traffic and demand for everything and it becomes quite unpleasant and difficult to just do normal things like get park in town to go to the fruiterers or the fishmongers. This is annoying for about three months of the year.

Also I have zero time for second homes or their owners. This viewpoint is heavily influenced by living next door to one who visits twice a year and then lends it out to her friends for a few months a year who block our parking, make jokes about us being ‘beach hands’ (we both have high flying corporate careers) and allow their children to throw stones at our dog. The rest of the time we have to sort out random maintenance issues on their behalf all the bloody time, because they simply aren’t here.

FWIW I found Simon Reeve’s documentary a pretty sad and slightly bitter view of Cornwall. There are some social issues here but he I felt he could have shown more of the massively exciting industry growing here around geothermal, creative industries, tech, renewable energy etc. There are careers here, for the spirited, hard working and entrepreneurial.

Another issue is families don't necessarily want to stay in hotels the way the U.K. offers them. In lots of other countries the rooms are bigger & have a kitchenette as standard. Plus the rooms are also cheaper.

Totally agree that second homes suck life out of villages. Its so sad out of season to see the town mostly in darkness as so many homes are lets or second homes. I justify my holiday there, hoping that the money I spend helps the local economy & we get to enjoy the beauty of the area. Careful to buy from the local shops & cafes whilst there. I pay to stay there , not a second home.

Awful for the young local people trying to buy houses there.

Devon born and bred, lived in a very popular tourist location growing up (coach loads of grockles in the summer and no buses for months in the winter). Local work was seasonal and related to the tourist trade (mostly- even trades were fitting out pubs and holiday lets). I left uni etc, now one of those highly sought after experienced HCP's that both devon and cornwall are desperate to recruit. My heart is still there, but bloody hell am I put off by the snotty looks and under breath chunter I get when I take the kids to 'secret/local' beaches and river swimming spots. Passive aggressive snarly 'your welcome' when someone has pulled in or reversed on a lane etc etc....I no longer sound local and drive a car that has a sticker that identifies it as coming from some where else in the west country....But then I remember that it took years for the 'locals' to accept us when we moved from Exeter to our more rural home when I was about 7 (we were 'incomers' for about 10 years and we must have moved all of about 40 miles.....)

I haven't RTFT but lots of people in tourist areas are ok with tourists but absolutely not ok with second home owners...but surely tourists depend on second home owners in a lot of cases?
Not everyone will stay in a hotel or campsite. (we often book self catering accomodation) However I can see how having houses stood empty for much of the year, deprives local people of adequate services, schools, doctors surgeries, even every day type shops.
But how do you stop people wanting to stay in touristy places?
I live in a very non touristy area probably about as far from the coast as you can be in the uk, so we always want to go to a coastal location for a holiday.

But supposing tourists stopped going to Devon/cornwall/norfolk etc...would the areas have better, more well paid jobs? would the jobs market and type of industries change, as well as house prices?