To think holiday homes could be used to house lots of refugees

[Letshaveablackcelebration]

Uk has a LOT of holiday homes and empty second homes. Surely they could be used to take a lot of Refugees aswell as spare rooms? It could support local economies all year round too rather than just in peak tourism seasons? The crisis is going to escalate rapidly in Ukraine- there are 44 million people in the country and so far it’s about 2 million who have fled and now countries like Moldova and the Poland are starting to struggle so we need to step up.

Aibu? It seems like an obvious solution. Obviously using the empty homes of oligarchs too is a preference.

I read an article about a woman who gave her French holiday home to a refugee family.

It's great that everyone feels energised and wants to do something, however in reality the visas being granted will only be step one, housing, schools, medical centre will need to be mobilised, familiarising to the British norm and the realisation that for many home in Ukraine will not be a viable option to return to
Many hurdles ahead.....

I wonder what they are going to do with all the refugees here already in overcrowded hostels/hotels etc?

Most people take years to achieve refugee status (and can then work), before that they are “asylum seekers” and cannot work. So will you actually be housing refugees from previous conflicts/oppression?

@5zeds

I wonder what they are going to do with all the refugees here already in overcrowded hostels/hotels etc?

Most people take years to achieve refugee status (and can then work), before that they are “asylum seekers” and cannot work. So will you actually be housing refugees from previous conflicts/oppression?

Exactly

Surely a better place to start would be all those overpriced flats in London currently standing empty owned by shell companies etc & all the commercial buildings or closed hotels currently vacant that could be converted into temporary accommodation, before expecting the public to step in?
But, of course, I doubt that would be popular with our government or their donors...

Insurance, energy, mortgage, sky, internet, water rates £350 won't stretch that far

I mean it's no skin off my nose I live in a housing association house so dont own one home let alone two
But I don't think you can just force people to allow refugees at stay in their second home indefinitely.

Lets have a BlackCelebration: I take your point and think that more care should be taken over Covid. Doesn''t take away that , presumably, no check will be made over people treating property with respect. A lot could go wrong in six months.

@5zeds

I wonder what they are going to do with all the refugees here already in overcrowded hostels/hotels etc?

Most people take years to achieve refugee status (and can then work), before that they are “asylum seekers” and cannot work. So will you actually be housing refugees from previous conflicts/oppression?

I’ve wondered this too. You surely can’t say you’ll have a refugee but only if they’re of one nationality.

@APurpleSquirrel

Surely a better place to start would be all those overpriced flats in London currently standing empty owned by shell companies etc & all the commercial buildings or closed hotels currently vacant that could be converted into temporary accommodation, before expecting the public to step in? But, of course, I doubt that would be popular with our government or their donors...

Yes or all those flats held by overseas investors perhaps

YABU, all those holiday and second homes belong to someone. You can't force or expect the owners of those properties to just give them up.

@TheOnlyMrsMac I think there needs to be far more restrictions. I believe Wales is introducing higher CT etc. I also think the gov will target CGs tax.

BeingATwatItsABingThing

The point is, unless it’s a real possibility, you are unlikely to think through what it actually means, because it’s pointless. When you have spare rooms or a holiday home, it all becomes a bit more real and even the kindest people in life have valid concerns.

You got a holiday home to just let refugees to move in to OP?

@Letshaveablackcelebration

The outrage on here is very telling isn’t it. It’s fine to have strangers in your holiday home if they are paying loads or cash.

But it’s not fine to have strangers who are government subsidised refugee families fleeing war in your holiday home as they are somehow different.

Because the refugees aren't paying your bills. It's that simple.

Yes people who have the finances and capacity to help will. But most people simply don't have the capacity.

@XenoBitch

YABU, all those holiday and second homes belong to someone. You can't force or expect the owners of those properties to just give them up.

Why not?

the British love going on about WW2, know is their chance to actually relive the home front!

OP unfortunately the way we have evolved as a society is that the very people who could afford to offer this kind of help are the ones temperamentally and politically least likely to do so.

Hency the jeering about "why don't you move out of your house then" and "all very well offering other people's houses" - the narrative these people need to believe in tells them that we are ALL as selfish and amoral as they are, and anyone who claims otherwise is a liar or a fool.

You don't get or stay wealthy in this country by having a social conscience or caring about the less fortunate. You get and stay wealthy by looking after number one, and pulling up the ladder after you. So you're flooging a dead horse here, I'm afraid.

I think the only way this would work is to make holiday homes or second homes which are mostly empty (plenty round my seaside town) less lucrative, or they are taxed more. The values of properties are too high and as long as properties are investments and not homes it won't work.

It's a dire situation. Not sure what to suggest. There are a lot of older people living in houses with spare bedrooms (my mum being one of them) which really families should be living in. I'm sure plenty would host, but £350 a month is not enough for the upheaval and cost of food and utilities. I think people would be out of pocket in a time when inflation seems to be going crazy.

@BlanketsBanned
"I wonder what conversations and obstacles took place in WW2 when children and refugees were evacuated"

There wasn't any safeguarding or worry about education. The difference is that we aren't at war, so will be expected and legally obligated to look after the refugees in every way. My Mother was evacuated during WW2 and like many others, her education stopped and she was badly neglected. Many evacuees were abused etc.

As for why can't holiday areas care for refugees, when they can tourists, is because those tourists are still under their local hospital/GP/dentist and would go home if any health problems happened. They wouldn't expect their children to go into local schools etc.
Other countries may administer health care differently. Although I have read why many people get on to boats and try to jump into lorries in Calais and it's because they aren't housed, given medical support, properly fed. So while some countries may take them, we don't know how they will be expected to live. There are children living in France in tents. When the authorities decide to move them on, they smash up the camps and leave the people, including those with children to sort themselves out.

Also look at Jaywick. That's what we are potentially creating.

Hency the jeering about "why don't you move out of your house then" and "all very well offering other people's houses" - the narrative these people need to believe in tells them that we are ALL as selfish and amoral as they are, and anyone who claims otherwise is a liar or a fool.

It's not jeery. It's making OP realise that you can't just force people to give up their assets.

She's refusing to give up her home when it's completely plausible for her to do but she's expecting others to give up their only source of income.

Is there sufficient infrastructure and facilities? They need more than a roof over their heads. A lot of holiday areas have mostly seasonal work too.

Better to clear our office blocks than personally owned buildings.

Didn't the government take over Butlins in the second world war ?
Maybe haven ,Butlins ,centre parks etc could offer their accomodation ?
( I'm joking )

There's much pent up fury on this thread, understandably so.... However, this could be us in 6 months time! Wars never go as planned, too many agendas, too many stockpiled weapons itching to be used or tested
Too many vulnerable populations with little survival skills
Too many people feeling overwhelmed after 2 years of government scare mongering over covid
If you can help in anyway pls do..
War diminishes us all...

@XenoBitch

YABU, all those holiday and second homes belong to someone. You can't force or expect the owners of those properties to just give them up.

Well, that’s what happened in other wars. Properties were requisitioned, like it or not. So if it came to it, you can be forced.

@Feelingoktoday

Most people just do not have space or a holiday home to rent out. Yet again this Govt is expecting the public to do the govts job.

Totally agree with this. Was in Asda the other day and the tannoy system was reminding people to donate to food banks (I do this each month) and it dawned on me that we pay taxes to help the less fortunate and we are doing the government's job. Not saying helping people isn't our responsibility, but it does feel like the people of this country are trying to do more than the government to help with the cost of living crisis at the moment.