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?

Pretty sure overnight stays are still not allowed until 12th April unless there are extenuating circs. I would have assumed would include second homes too as well as self catering lets.

You can’t stay away from your main residence overnight until 12th April.

I think it's 12th April OP - deliberately to fall after the English Easter school holidays I suppose.

However, all properties need to be inspected if they are empty so I don't think it's unreasonable to visit it, even if you have to stay overnight. Just watch out for the pitchfork-carrying locals who assume anyone who comes from elsewhere is bringing the plague. You can't go there on holiday though.

(and 13 days doesn't seem that long to wait)

@poppycat10

I think it's 12th April OP - deliberately to fall after the English Easter school holidays I suppose.

However, all properties need to be inspected if they are empty so I don't think it's unreasonable to visit it, even if you have to stay overnight. Just watch out for the pitchfork-carrying locals who assume anyone who comes from elsewhere is bringing the plague. You can't go there on holiday though.

Good point about the property inspection/maintenance. Locals are all nice and know us so that's not a worry.

Our school holidays go on until the 19th April. We’re in West Yorkshire.

It's legal to go to second homes now (though advice is still 'stay local').

second home visits not allowed

www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do#staying-away-from-home-overnight

Interesting. Telegraph have reported it's legal. Frankly since there's no limit on how far you can travel (or harm in staying in your house once you get there) people will go now.

www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/23/legal-stay-uk-second-homes-easter-despite-guidance-advising/

(Paywall but you get the gist)

Should not means guidance. Must not means law.

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

I agree. You can't go and spend a week there, but you can go and check you've no burst pipes etc and stay for one night. If anyone reports you they really need to get a life.

Also second homes are not all in Cornwall. Some people live in the Cotswolds and have second homes in London. Can we please stop the nonsense that second homes are always in areas with limited healthcare - it isn't true and in any event if you are going to generalise, "everyone" in those areas is elderly and so they've been vaccinated anyway.

I think having second homes is ethically suspect, but the idea you can't go to them to check that they're still in one piece is a nonsense. Just go, OP.