Cornwall retains the title for England’s second home capital, with the county now boasting 14,123 second homes based on the most recent data from the government
Cornwall retains its unwanted reputation as England’s second home capital, leaving some locals exasperated as the latest government data reveals a spike in numbers.
Now topping more than 14,000 second homes, Cornwall has seen an increase in nearly a thousand in a year — this is an eye-watering 7.5 per cent increase from the previous year’s 13,140. This surge contrasts sharply with the preceding year, which saw a modest drop in second properties from 13,292 in 2022.
These statistics refer to ‘second homes’ as furnished properties not designated as a main residence, encompassing not only holiday lets such as AirBnBs but also “buy-to-leave” homes bought for investment purposes and often remaining empty.
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In the league of second home ownership, Cornwall is unrivalled, with North Yorkshire a far second having 8,572 and Kensington and Chelsea coming in at third with 7,667. Across England, the quest for owning a second abode is on an upward trajectory, with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirming a total of 279,870 second homes nationwide – up 16,552 from 2023 and 22,957 up from 2022, marking an 8.9 per cent growth over just two years.
The raging debate about second home ownership in a popular coastal area has divided local opinion. Some argue that it contributes to a shortage in housing supply and rising prices, while others see second homes as an integral part of the tourism economy.
Commenter Tami NCortese said: “I am not sure why people are so angry about second home owners… at the end of the day it’s a house that most of us can’t afford anyway. At least it’s used to welcome tourists and to support Cornwall in summer and during the holiday because it brings money to us. Cornwall is dead in winter and local trade needs tourism to make money. It’s a circle.”
Disagreeing vehemently, Theodore Pound said: “It doesn’t bring us money how on earth do you come to that. If they were all sold it would flood the market and more people would be able to buy homes”, reports Cornwall Live.
Chiming in, Tyler Stephens added: “So if you sold your theoretical house would you sell it to someone local at half the price because that’s the right thing to do? I certainly wouldn’t!” Voicing a different persepctive, Wayne Sharrocks said: “There are so many homeless families that these greedy people could be renting to instead of leaving the properties empty. 14,000! That’s a lot of families that could be helped.”
Marcia Bell countered the long held argument that second-home ownership causes areas to become under-pooulated and a bit dead in the winter. Marcia said: “Cornwall isn’t dead in winter anymore, quite a lot of people still holiday in winter. The balance is wrong and we need more homes or holiday lets.”
Meanwhile, Christopher Martin warned: “Cornwall will be dead in summer soon, it’s getting there. It’s not half as busy this year as previous years.”
Kay Watt highlighted a stark issue: “In my village a company owns multiple holiday homes. Throughout the winter most of these properties are empty. Some villages have become ghost places and there are hundreds of homeless families needing homes and are stuck in temporary accommodation.”
Teeanna Cleary-Skelton echoes this sentiment, noting: “Second homes that are frequently unoccupied over the winter in these places are a big part of the problem.”
Meanwhile, Lucy Endean shares her personal experience: “We live in a tiny hamlet of about 12 houses, generally owned by elderly or older couples. One couple have bought 3 houses, ( without them even going on the market), 2 stand empty, 1 they live in part time as they own and work in other houses further up the country. So they contribute nothing here.”
Geoffrey Young believes that a solution is elusive without local empowerment: “This will never be solved without devolved powers for Cornwall to be able to begin tackling it as in Wales.” And Carryann Isaacs made a pointed statement: “Nobody needs two homes. It’s just plain greed.”