Holiday Home

[coulditbeme2323]

Does anybody have any experience of having a hoiday home with young kids?

We have a part of the country we love, and a home in our favorite part has come up. The agent has said they don't often come up and whilst I appreciate agents don't always tell the truth - I haven't seen many of them.

We have 3 kids 12 and under so wouldn't be able to use during term time.

Here is info that might be relevant.

1. It's only 1hr20 from our home so could use it for as long weekend.
2. We wouldn't air bnb it or anything - but close friends and family could use.
3. We travel abroad a fair bit in summer holidays.

It feels a few years too sign, but in just over ten years we will have 3 kids at uni and could use it lots.

Thoughts?

What a sound destroying negative bit of drama. @coulditbeme2323 go and enjoy it. You can get a local gardener to tend to it when you're not there. Having a holiday home and one not far from you is a lovely bit of escapism. The kids will have a second place to call home and enjoy experiences around that area. The housing crisis isn't your responsibility. Maybe if holiday parks were allowed to be resided in all year round, it would alleviate local housing issues. The local councils want their council tax though.

Is this an actual bricks-n-mortar house or is it a holiday home on a park? I think they are different things. If it’s actual housing, in terms of the second home detriment to the local area, I think that once someone out of the community has bought the house, then it’s actually better to rent it out than not, especially if you find your family not using it as much as you hoped, because that at least means there are people there putting money into the local economy .

From what you have said about your situation, It sounds as if it will be a great resource for your extended family members and friends that you are allowing to use it, but I can’t see you using it that much for your immediate family. And you will still need to be getting down there for maintenance etc

It's an apartment

Bet you're fun at parties! OP quite clearly wasn't looking for that.

As you love the area cant you just move there permanently seeing as it's only 1hr 20 from home?

Alternatively would your money be better off invested thus keeping the capital and just rent if you want to visit this area? That way if life throws a curve ball or you just cant get there you won't feel it's wasted.

Our neighbours bought a second home some years ago which they only got to use occasionally when their DC were teenagers. However, now the DC are adults and have left home and the neighbours have retired, they have ended up selling their "first" home and downsizing to live permanently in what was once the holiday home.

No, it's still 80 miles away from schools, family, business etc.

Yes once kids all at uni, I could see us there half the time.

So a part time home.
The locals will really love you.

I am sure they will with all the money we will be spending in their local business's.

The size is irrelevant. People buying second homes destroy communities. You say people will be there a fair bit. Great. But they won't be using the local shop every week, going to the pub, registering with the doctors, the dentist etc. That house is no longer available for a family who would have children at the school, get involved in hobbies and local life.

Some areas of the country have over 75% second homes. They are ghost towns. All services close. The buses stop running. Local people are forced out.

But you want to contribute to killing our communities for the convenience of your family then crack on.

I would happily support a national policy of charging 20% of second homes latest value a year in tax personally to fund the communities you are trying to destroy. Hopefully it would stop this stupidity.

I really don't think this is a home that a local family would be buying.

I grew up with one and it was great. My parents bought a derelict house and renovated it - we’d go most weekends but I stopped going with them from the age of about 15. Lots of family used it and I started going with friends when I hit my twenties.

My parents had it for around twenty years I reckon.

Sounds a lot of fun, where was it?

Of course, keep telling yourself that.
The truth is you wouldn’t care a fig what they think.

This. Beyond selfish.
Holiday homes destroy communities, particularly in rural areas.

I don't need to tell myself anything.

This isn't the case re this property.

Agree with this

I used to think I'd like a second home. But, morally, I now think it's problematic

And I think that second homes are worse than holiday homes, as they sit empty more often. At least holiday homes are likely to be rented out / used for longer

But isn’t it the original local community property owners who initially chose to sell it to non locals?

You said it's a flat so I'm not sure why locals wouldn't want to buy a flat when they're starting out or retiring.

Flats are always fairly popular to buy.

It is, but it isn't a regular flat.

We have a holiday flat by the coast in an area where one of us grew up. Our teenage daughter loves being there and often brings friends. We feel much happier and more relaxed there and as our daughter approaches Uni etc will go there even more. Having a flat is much easier as lock and leave, no garden etc. Friends and family use it but we do not rent it.
Whilst not getting into an ideological discussion... locals in the area concerned do not have an issue with second home owners, we pay double council tax which massively assuages any guilt and actually eat and drink out, rent boats etc most of the time when there so actually spend far more in that local economy than at "home".
It is a big and expensive decision but one we do not regret. We still do one or two big holidays a year but breaks tend to be there.

Wow, you think I'm lying?
Midwives want to work in the northwest Highlands. They apply for jobs and get them. Then they can't find anywhere to live (thank you, second homes) so they can't take up the positions. Lack of community midwives mean more women have to attempt to get to the major hospital in Inverness instead, a journey of up to 3 hours WHILST IN LABOUR. I personally know two women who have given birth in lay-bys in the last three years. They were lucky - mum and baby both survived.

Quite.

The previous "pillars of their community" wanted lots of ££££££££££ and couldn't give a shit about their wonderful ex friends and neighbours......😂