Top ten holiday home hotspots revealed: Cornwall is favourite - and 165,000 Britons own a second property for leisure
- Data shows 6.2% of property in Cornwall are holiday homes
- More than 160k people have a holiday home in England and Wales
- Gwynedd and North Norfolk also popular spots to buy second property
Cornwall is the holiday home hotspot of England and Wales as more people have snapped up a second property for leisure in the area than anywhere else, research shows.
It may be a long way from much of the UK, but the most south-westerly county of England has a 300 mile coastline and plenty of unspoiled countryside to boot, which has enticed people to buy in their droves.
Of all properties in the area, 6.2 per cent – some 10,169 – are used solely as holiday homes, the research from Direct Line shows.
Holiday homes: According to data, some 6.2 per cent of properties in Cornwall are used for leisure
Across England and Wales, 165,000 homes are used for holiday purposes, analysis of Census data by Direct Line shows.
Many of the most popular areas, such as Cornwall, Wales and Norfolk have seen a rise in second homeownership over the past two decades, which has delivered a boost to tourist industries but been a cause of concern for local people.
Supporters see the increase in second homeowners as bringing money and business into areas, while critics say second homeownership has driven up house prices - often beyond the reach of locals - and led to properties sitting empty for large chunks of the year.
Peter Olivey, an estate agent in Padstow, Cornwall – home to restaurants owned by celebrity chef Rick Stein – says the local property market is competitive.
He said: 'Cornwall ticks a number of important boxes for second home owners with its coastal location and abundance of activities. It's a true holiday haven without the hassle or cost of going abroad.'
Picturesque spot: Padstow in Cornwall is popular - and a local estate agent says the property market is fierce
Second on the list is Gwynedd in Wales, home to Snowdonia National Park. Here, 4.7 per cent of all homes are classed as for holiday usage.
Completing the top three is North Norfolk, which encompasses part of the Heritage Coast.
It's also home to quaint seaside spots such as Cromer, Sheringham and Wells-next-the-Sea. Here, 2.9 per cent of homes are classed as for holiday use.
House with a view: Gwynedd is a popular spot for those buying a second home. Pictured is Snowdown Mountain
In terms of market competitiveness, estate agents said out of the top ten areas, East Riding, Yorkshire, is the most difficult spot to buy in from the top ten list.
The data comes after the Liberal Democrats announced plans to give local authorities the power double council tax on second homes.
Number of holiday homes | % of all holiday homes | ||
---|---|---|---|
1 | Cornwall UA | 10,169 | 6.2 |
2 | Gwynedd | 7,784 | 4.7 |
3 | North Norfolk | 4,842 | 2.9 |
4 | South Lakeland | 4,684 | 2.8 |
5 | East Lindsey | 4,472 | 2.7 |
6 | Pembrokeshire | 4,310 | 2.6 |
7 | East Riding of Yorkshire | 4,059 | 2.5 |
8 | South Hams | 3,738 | 2.3 |
9 | Scarborough | 3,697 | 2.2 |
10 | King's Lynn and West Norfolk | 3,539 | 2.1 |
All other local or unitary authorities | 86,178 | 52.5 | |
All local or unitary authorities | 165,095 | 100 |
Nick Brabham, head of Select Premier Insurance at Direct Line, said: 'Holiday homes are very valuable to owners as they are often a place to relax and spend quality time with loved ones.
'This time is often limited, which means it is essential to keep the property and its contents in top condition all year round.'
The data is based on the number of people with second addresses in local authorities who use them for 30 days or more each year for holiday purposes.
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