Is having a second home in this country ever justifiable?

[Zog]

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?

A lot of Swedish people have summer houses - these tend to be quite basic getaways (like no electricity and stuff) in order to enjoy the sunshine whilst it lasts.

No - but mainly because I'll never be able to afford one, so I don't see why anyone else should be able to!

it just seems like such an unecessary PITA.

but i'm lazy, too.

no, i can't afford anything myself, but that's how it is here, i guess - take it or leave it.

and leave it is looking better and better.

4x4 are just fashion aren't they? I would like an aston martin to travel to my second home in the country (in Devon) I would keep another car garaged there for countryside driving.
imo 4x4 are not very tasteful - if I had to have one i would have a land rover defender for use in my countryside manor naturally

i have a really good pal who's gay, and he swears on his dear dad's grave that the size of a man's car and his penis size are inversely proportional.

I suppose if I think about it a bit more, I have a problem with the whole "rights" thing we have going on in this country ATM i.e. it's my right to go on loads of foreign holidays/own a second home/drive a gas guzzling car/spend their money on whatever they damn well like with no sense of how these actions affect anyone else.

it also depends where your main home is. If I lived in wolverhampton I would have to have a 2nd home. no offence any one who lives there!

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it's not rights though is it? You have to have the money for these things.

Of course - what I mean is when you've got the money, it's your right to spend it on whatever you want, regardless of the impact.

Zog I like to think that it is a tiny minority who think like this. However do you think this attitude is prevalent? I'm not like this!!!

I'd still like an aston martin though, is that ok?

Pricing the locals out of the housing market, or creating ghost towns where a substantial proportion of homes are empty most of the year, are clearly wrong. Happens a lot in the South West and Lake District.

happens loads up here, too!

i think it's a UK-wide phenomenon.

I like to think that people do have a conscience but maybe I am a bit naive

think alot of people couldn't really care less, as long as they're set up for their retirement

it all relates to the housing market which could change drastically in the next 10 yrs or so. These villages will change again I guess. There are too many people living in this country imo.

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splutter at expat and the penis size comment!

I am against 2nd homes for the reasons edam put. 2nd homes/buy to let drives up property prices.

No it's not.
It is killing Welsh communities in my part of Wales and I am a member of this pressure group. Cymuned

I LOVE it, moondog!

Scotland needs a group like this, too, IMO.

I believe talks are taking place..

Can I just ask all you people who are against second home ownership, have none of you ever taken a self ctering cottage holiday in the UK? If so, what do you suppose those homes are if not someone's second home? Or is it OK if you let your second house out to the holiday market, thus bringing in money through the tourist industry?

In Welsh, I hope!

so many villages are slowly dying as a result of second homes - we live in devon and would love to buy a house in a village where there is a community, a pub etc but house prices are massive due to second homers - and all the shops, pubs, schools, shutting because they don;t get enough regular business. its WORSE than owning a 4x4. at least, round here 4x4 could be practical!

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