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Original poster

Is having a second home in this country ever justifiable?

282 replies

Zog · 11/02/2007 18:18

Given the amount of houses that we are told needs to be built to keep up with demand? Are they a luxury that is becoming unsustainable, like cheap air travel?

OP posts:
WanderingTrolley · 11/02/2007 18:20

Only if you are middle class.

Original poster
Zog · 11/02/2007 18:21

Surely you mean f*ing middle class

OP posts:
WanderingTrolley · 11/02/2007 18:22

What if you are f*ing the middle classes - where does that put one?

Original poster
Zog · 11/02/2007 18:23

In a dilemma, clearly

OP posts:
Oati · 11/02/2007 18:25

waht about those 'second home estates' like \link{http://www.lowermillestate.com/\Lower Mill? Are they OK?

Oati · 11/02/2007 18:25

waht about those 'second home estates' like Lower Mill? Are they OK?

wotzsaname · 11/02/2007 18:26

Gosh do you mean there are some that don't have a country abode and city apartment to choose between. How would one cope? On my, how terrible.

Original poster
Zog · 11/02/2007 18:27

Well I don't know, I'm asking you! Just that I've seen plenty of ranting on MN against 4x4s but none against second homes which I thought was strange, so wondered if I was missing something.

OP posts:
kimi · 11/02/2007 18:28

I have to houses, well i guess i have two halfs of two houses, hust means two lots of cleaning!!!

WanderingTrolley · 11/02/2007 18:28

I blame Phil and Kirstie, even though I love them.

[confused-myself-there emoticon]

mousiemousie · 11/02/2007 18:29

Having more than 1 home is no more or less justifiable than being much better off than other people...

Is your arguement that income distribution needs to change, or that rich people should be restricted in the freedom to spend their money as they choose?

Original poster
Zog · 11/02/2007 18:29

For example, I was listening to something on the radio and they were talking about a particular village where over 60% of the houses/flats were second homes.

OP posts:
themoon66 · 11/02/2007 18:31

wotzsaname - they are not called apartments, but 'crash-pads'. Do you not watch Phil and Kirsty?

meanscottishbint · 11/02/2007 18:32

what is wrong with having a second home? People who have them pay full council tax etc. I don't see a problem I wouldn't mind one myself.

meanscottishbint · 11/02/2007 18:32

or cwash pads...

wotzsaname · 11/02/2007 18:33

FWIW The local shops and business suffer when the second home is empty and doesnt generate any local income.

A lot of small villages and communities rely on locals using the facilities. Second homes stop this and the shops close.

Original poster
Zog · 11/02/2007 18:34

Blimey, I knew I'd regret starting this

So I take it that everyone thinks having a second home is fine then.

OP posts:
meanscottishbint · 11/02/2007 18:38

i think these small shops are suffering anyway due to large supermarkets. I agree that there are some villages which seem to populated by 2nd home owners. I would not choose to live in one as they become soulless villages....

expatinscotland · 11/02/2007 18:38

it does seem a really poncey British thing to do, tbh.

meanscottishbint · 11/02/2007 18:39

Why not Zog? What is your view then? Is it an environmental one or are you anti middle classes?

meanscottishbint · 11/02/2007 18:41

people have 2nd homes in other countries though. Parisians have homes in the south. Americans have homes in the hamptons. Wayne rooney and his bird have that dreadful looking holiday apartment in florida

expatinscotland · 11/02/2007 18:41

it seems to have an overall negative effect on the villages who have a large percentage of this going on.

but it's the whole buy to let thingy, too.

as a foreigner, i don't get it and never will.

it's just one of those things where my foreign mind just thinks, 'ok, they do stuff like this.'

mousiemousie · 11/02/2007 18:42

Is it more or less socially responsible to own a second home than having a second child/car/bottle of wine. Discuss.

Original poster
Zog · 11/02/2007 18:42

I don't have much of an opinion tbh - just surprised, as I said, that so much bile on here is aimed at 4x4s but none at second homes - to me, the effect is similar.

OP posts:
southeastastra · 11/02/2007 18:43

i'd hate to have to move out of my home town away from family etc, just because there are no affordable houses. but it's a country wide thing now isn't it, some people own tons of houses and rent them out.

it's just another sign of the widening gap of wealth in this country.