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Original poster

Second home owner

208 replies

silversun · 12/04/2020 10:19

Gorgeous weather here in Devon and yesterday morning the second home owners across the road turned up.
I've reported them to the police via email 101 but I'm still so angry that they have put our small hamlet of mainly over 60's at risk just because they fancied a change of scenery- they should be ashamed of themselves!
Please talk me down from going over there this morning😡😡

OP posts:
Janleverton · 13/04/2020 12:41

Kortnee - just giving Cornwall as an example, council tax is NOT discounted for second homes. It used to be, until about 6 years ago I think. There used, if I recall correctly, to be a 10% discount. But (rightly IMO) that was done away with.

I think if a person was in the house when lockdown happened, that’s fine and they can stay there. I have a problem with people travelling to second homes now. I’d love to be at ours, but couldn’t justify it as being essential travel and wouldn’t want to potentially put strain on local health services or shops when we are registered at GP here. Plus have access to numerous hospitals as you’d expect in a densely populated area.

Aesopfable · 13/04/2020 12:42

Kortnee pp on here seem to think nhs resources are just stretched in rural area. Not everywhere. Patients are taken where there is most capacity in a system operating that is near capacity. That might mean going to Sheffield instead of Leeds, or being taken from Cornwall to Plymouth, or from Lerwick to Dundee instead of Aberdeen.

YogaFaker · 13/04/2020 12:47

Truro is around 2 hours & 30 minutes by train from Exeter, maybe 40 minutes less by car. I suppose a medivac helicopter would do it really quickly ...

I assumed the main point the poster was making is that Cornwall is quite distant, and under-resourced. And less able to withstand a pandemic surge than, say Birmingham, Manchester, or London ...

alloutoffucks · 13/04/2020 12:47

If respiratory patients are being taken that far away for a hospital, that is a risk. There is lots of research to show that with respiratory issues, and corona virus causes respiratory issues, that the closer you are to a hospital, the better the outcome.
For cardiac patients it is better to have a longer transfer to a specialist hospital. But that is not the case for respiratory patients.

Beetle11 · 13/04/2020 13:23

Second home owners who don’t rent out their properties do pay full council tax.

Kortnee · 13/04/2020 13:31

Oh, ok. Second home owners pay full council tax and hospitals struggle everywhere. I stand corrected. Brilliant. Come on down to Devon then. By all means, risk spreading the virus to members of my family, despite the Government giving clear guidlines to stay put. You are entitled to whichever property you lucky people choose. You'll be ok. Nevermind if you increase the chances of my DH or DM dying, gasping for air eh? As long as you justify it to yourselves.

Pumpkinpie1 · 13/04/2020 13:36

Second home owners who are travelling between homes are risking & spreading the disease.
Yes there are other issues but this is the crux , it’s extremely selfish which is why the PM his mistress , dad & a number of MPs , celebs etc are a disgrace! Lead by example dont make a mockery of those who are returning to the front line NHS to save lives & dying as a result ! 41 and counting!

TeensArghhhh · 13/04/2020 13:39

Why are posters stating about 2nd home owners paying council tax? If they want street lighting, drainage, plumbed in water pipes, refuse collections, roads maintained etc at their second property it’s only right they pay for it.

This health crisis comes down to life or death. It isn’t about money. Or do second home owners think only those who can pay for medical treatment should get it?

The rules FOR EVERYONE is Stay home. Essential travel only. It isn’t a rule for some and a different rule for others!

Beetle11 · 13/04/2020 13:52

Just correcting an oft quoted assumption on this and other threads that second home owners pay less towards local services than permanent residents. For the record we have a second home and have no intention of going there at the moment so as not to place extra strain on the local health services.

Stepintimebert · 13/04/2020 13:55

People look at People like Gordon Ramsey who has moved to his second home and think it’s ok. Police should ask him to move back to his London permanent home. No different because you are on the TV. Selfish Arse.

sleepingpup · 13/04/2020 14:08

dear god I can't believe the people on here justifying the OP's new 'neighbours'! Don't care how much they pay in Council Tax. You can't buy yourself out of the rules.

They should NOT have come down yesterday. There is a TRAVEL BAN. Has anybody heard the phrase 'STAY HOME'??????

In FrAnce, Italy and Spain there is a a lot of evidence that Covid was spread from the initial outbreaks to coastal and outlying areas by people dashing off to their holiday homes.

WOW CAn not believe people who they are above the rules.

They love the city money when it suits them, though.
oh snark off. Fancy the locals having a tourist fucking industry but not 'loving' the idea of getting virus from arrogant selfish law flouting visitors.Hmm

Lessofallthisunpleasantness · 13/04/2020 14:15

Maybe they have given over their other home for medics or homeless people to live in during the lock down as they are lucky enough to have two homes.

You could ring them and ask them? Or you could stir the pot on Mumsnet. Your choice. xx

Fifthtimelucky · 13/04/2020 14:38

@Lumene I don't have a second home, but my understanding is that those who do can be on the electoral roll at both. That is certainly the case with students who live much of the year away from home.

They can only vote once in general elections of course, but have a choice over which constituency they can vote in. I assume the same is true for others with second homes.

Lumene · 13/04/2020 14:39

That’s interesting Fith i wasn’t aware of that.

Lumene · 13/04/2020 14:39

Fifth sorry

Casino218 · 13/04/2020 14:42

I do think that some of this angry venting towards second home owners is fuelled by jealousy and at last people have what they see as a valid excuse to vent that jealousy.

I'm not a second home owner by the way.

Lumene · 13/04/2020 14:43

Maybe they have given over their other home for medics or homeless people to live in during the lock down as they are lucky enough to have two homes.

If they have done this with their second home for locals great.

If they have travelled to their second home and are staying there against govt advice it doesn’t make a difference to local residents and their infrastructure what they have done with their primary residence. They are still putting lives at risk and ignoring govt guidance.

Lumene · 13/04/2020 14:44

Being annoyed at people not following rules and risking others lives is not jealousy.

alloutoffucks · 13/04/2020 14:45

I suspect a lot defending this are second home owners who have gone to their second home. Selfish fuckers. And I hope the locals give you angry glares after all this is over too.

Joans3rddaughter · 13/04/2020 14:48

So will these second home owners receive a refund in Council Tax on their second home now that they are not allowed to visit? f there are not there, they are not using the services.
Cannot have it both ways.

Lumene · 13/04/2020 14:49

I am registered at the house in cornwall

Then that is your primary residence so no problem with you being there. Not sure why you posted about it on a thread about people breaking the rules about travelling to second homes then though?

Kortnee · 13/04/2020 14:52

I do think that some of this angry venting towards second home owners is fuelled by jealousy

Wrong. It's fuelled by not wanting to increase the possibilty of a loved ones death because of someone elses selfishness.
I have no problem with people who own second homes. Good on them. A lot of posters on this thread have said that they wouldn't come to their second homes which is the sensible and right approach. It's the ridiculous arguements that some people are coming out with to justify moving to a rural area in the middle of a health crisis like this that demonstrates staggering levels of entitlement.

Kortnee · 13/04/2020 14:57

So will these second home owners receive a refund in Council Tax on their second home now that they are not allowed to visit?

People are dying of a new virus and others are spreading it around and that's the angle you want to go for? The money? Give your head a wobble.

sleepingpup · 13/04/2020 15:01

So will these second home owners receive a refund in Council Tax on their second home now that they are not allowed to visit? f there are not there, they are not using the services.
Cannot have it both ways.

a council tax rebate? Hmm

what the f are you talking about?! i'm talking about a travel ban to try and stop a global pandemic.

Chickenwing · 13/04/2020 15:13

If they are going from one house to another in a car and are not near any people I really dont see any issue.