Forums Forums General Forums A - Z Lifestyle Second Homes Ban

St. Ives are to have a vote, to stop people buying second homes.

Locals say they are being priced out of the market, whilst property owners say they are bringing in much needed revenue from tourists.

It is probably something that affects many places. Maybe a better idea would be to allow a set number for second homes or alternatively give the vendors the option of either selling to locals or selling to a second home owner.

Not sure if that would work, but it must be infuriating to live with. Londoners spreading their wings again, to other peoples green and pleasant lands, hey Casper ?

To right granny, but don't worry our green and pleasant lands will be safe up here, they don't like the Liverpool lurgy.

I fully agree with the principal but it would take years to produce legislation that was fair and not full of loopholes and anomalies. This should be discouraged at a national level not local by increasing taxes.

Saying that, Cornwall has a stupidly low population density, less than a tenth of Wirral and Wirral is hardly overpopulated.

The government also needs to take action to stop the increase in house prices which yet again is on the verge of leading to a financial crisis.

I do feel very sorry for people who have been priced out of their home territory. How to legislate to stop that happening is a real puzzle. Housing associations might be able to put in place some measures, but that doesn't solve the problem for people who want to buy a home. Too many second homes can take the heart and character out of a community and make it hard for shops and other amenities to survive. Perhaps more taxes on second homes to be used locally to support keeping the amenities running might help to compensate? But ultimately the heart of the community is in its people; if they get scattered and replaced with weekenders, it's not going to work.

Its the st ives people who are selling there homes not the fault of the outside buyers.