This event is exclusive to Friends of Tortoise
Before the pandemic, government figures showed 772,000 households in England had second homes. At the same time, the UK is estimated to have around 227,000 people experiencing the worst forms of homelessness. In many small coastal communities, locals are being pushed out to make way for second or even third home ownership and rental properties. The influx of visitors can support local tourism and hospitality businesses, but what is the long-term cost to the community? This all came to a head at the start of the pandemic when wealthy individuals escaped the city in favour of more rural living; which resulted in locals – afraid of the transmission of COVID – pushing back and telling second home owners to go back to where they came from. So what has the pandemic taught us about second home ownership? Should people be allowed to own multiple homes, or should home ownership be restricted?
editor and invited experts
Matthew d’Ancona
Editor
Catherine Navin
Campaigner, First Not Second Homes
Chris Bailey
Campaign Manager, Action on Empty Homes
Jonathan Rolande
Property Expert