Planning permission for second homes

The Institute for Social Inventions has promoted this proposal, originally put to the Institute in the following letter by Desmond Banks of London W10.

The use of houses that would otherwise be occupied by local people as second homes can blight rural communities. Absent owners contribute nothing to community life. If local people have to compete with outsiders for property, prices must inevitably rise, perhaps putting them out of reach. If there is not enough housing to serve the local community, that inevitably leads to overcrowding, homelessness or migration.

'A second home could be defined as 'a residential property that is occupied upon less than 91 days in any calendar year' '

If you want to use a residential property for business purposes, you have to obtain planning permission. You should have to obtain planning permission, too, if you want to use a house as a second home. A second home could be defined as 'a residential property that is occupied upon less than 91 days in any calendar year and that is not the occupier's only or main residence.' Permission should only be granted if the local council is satisfied that the house or flat is not needed to accommodate local people or is unsuitable.

The Labour Party's new approach to second homes

The Labour Party has recently made moves towards a similar approach to that outlined above, announcing that 'local authorities will be given the option of deciding whether second homes will in future require planning consent.' Existing second homes will be exempt.

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