Second home from 29 March?

[Incogweeto]

I see in the 'roadmap' it says that from 29 March the stay at home order will be lifted and travel outside local area will be allowed (it does say guidance will say stay at home if possible, but that's guidance not law).

It then says self-contained holiday accommodation will re-open from 12 April.

I'm assuming that second home owners, however, can go to their houses from 29 March? If you can legally travel, and you own the house and it's empty, that should be fine, right?

I agree with you. There would be no reason why not. It's not like your own home needs to be open for bookings. Perhaps gov.uk will have clearer guidance at some point.

I've been assuming 12th April and that's what friends in the second home town think too. I'd love to go earlier

My understanding is 12 April at the earliest.

12 April is self catering accommodation (as a business) can open so that doesn't cover it. I haven't seen anywhere say 12 April = overnight stays allowed. Surely if you don't have to stay local from 29 March then by default you can stay overnight wherever you go, assuming it doesn't break any of the other rules? It might be one of those things that just stays hidden in the detail.

It says "stay local" on 29th March. Our other home certainly isn't local

I will understand if it is 12 April for all non-essential overnight stays. I can imagine it seeming 'that's not right' if only second home owners are allowed to go on holiday from 29 March and the rest of the country are not - and holiday let owners also having to wait for another 2 weeks to start getting an income again.

@Davros

It says "stay local" on 29th March. Our other home certainly isn't local

Yes but that's guidance, not law.

We were assuming 12th April from what they've said so far, so will be interesting to see when more specific guidance comes out.

I wonder about travelling from England to Wales (where our holiday home is)?

@MrsMackesy

I will understand if it is 12 April for all non-essential overnight stays. I can imagine it seeming 'that's not right' if only second home owners are allowed to go on holiday from 29 March and the rest of the country are not - and holiday let owners also having to wait for another 2 weeks to start getting an income again.

Hmm not sure I agree with this. It's not done on perceived 'fairness', it's done on risk, surely?

Going to an empty house that you own is not the same thing as going to someone else's property. Even if it's self catering, it will need to be serviced by someone else.

@Pieceofpurplesky

I wonder about travelling from England to Wales (where our holiday home is)?

Yeah that's interesting too, because the Welsh guidance will be different. I think Marcus Drakeford said he was hoping to open up self catering in time for the Easter holiday tourists but they haven't set out an official timeline yet as far as I know.

Certainly this BBC article says 'Easter' is the target for reopening tourism.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56165569

Something being allowed under the law - if indeed it even is - does not necessarily mean it is the right thing to do, or that you will be welcomed by locals and services if they think you are jumping the gun.

@MrsMackesy

Something being allowed under the law - if indeed it even is - does not necessarily mean it is the right thing to do, or that you will be welcomed by locals and services if they think you are jumping the gun.

If something isn't against the law, it's really nobody else's business, and certainly other people's opinions won't factor into it.

There is the risk that you will need to access local services in an emergency, much like holiday let occupants.

The 5 week period after schools open fully from 8 March in England is going to be incredibly important in assessing risk. We all need to do our bit, surely, to keep schools open, rather than just do what suits us as individuals and families?

If something isn't against the law, it's really nobody else's business, and certainly other people's opinions won't factor into it.

And on that note, time to bow out. I am sure there will be clarification nearer the time.

inews.co.uk/news/second-home-when-can-visit-lockdown-roadmap-travel-england-rules-explained-886267

12/04 according to this report

Yes, Hedda - that's what I thought too - 12 April for non-essential overnight stays and at the earliest.

Quick google gives a consensus of 12/04. Sorry ☹️. Seems so long to wait. I’m counting the days too, for the hairdresser and shops and cafes and pubs and everything else.

Accessing services in one place is the same as accessing them in another place.

Whether we should all 'do our bit' by going above and beyond what the law states is a matter of opinion. I'm literally just interested in what the law states, which is unclear so far.

@HeddaGarbled

inews.co.uk/news/second-home-when-can-visit-lockdown-roadmap-travel-england-rules-explained-886267

12/04 according to this report

Ah interesting, that's the first time I've seen overnight stays mentioned at all. Nothing on a government website so far. I wouldn't be surprised if they keep it woolly as MPs will want to spend Easter at their second homes.

Just out of curiosity, I'm wondering how it'll work if Wales allows overnight stays from Easter and England doesn't. Like, if you travel to Wales the travel bit will be allowed because 'stay at home' will be lifted, and then if you stay overnight would that be legal because it's legal in Wales or illegal because you started in England and are 'staying overnight'?

(My second home isn't in Wales!)

MrsMackesy
Something being allowed under the law - if indeed it even is - does not necessarily mean it is the right thing to do, or that you will be welcomed by locals and services if they think you are jumping the gun.
I agree, we will stick to 12.4 although I don't think we will rush there on that date. The roads might be busy and I want to get my hair cut locally, we will give it a few days

I read it as 12th April

Accessing services in one place is the same as accessing them in another place.

It really isn't. Second homes and holiday lets are usually in coastal and rural areas where services are often already few and far between or rely on volunteers. The influx of second home owners, other holiday makers and day visitors increases the demands on those services and often dramatically so.

There are more important things for the country to worry about and get up and running than access to second homes - things that will benefit everyone still lucky enough to be alive, not just second home owners.

I get it. It's tough, really tough, not being able to do what we want and get on with what was normal life before Covid19 hit us all for six. We just have to be patient for a little while longer and hopefully that time will come - and sooner rather than later.

It was heartbreaking to hear of the ongoing distress of a friend's severely disabled child who simply can't understand why they can't be at the seaside as usual. At least we have the capacity to understand.

No overnight stays before April 12th.