Up to 1 in 13 homes in some parts of Dorset are ‘holiday homes’
High concentration of second homes in Dorset have split opinion among councillors
Last updated 11th Jul 2023
The South West has the highest concentration of holiday homes in the UK according to a Census report.
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows up to 1 in 13 properties in Dorset are holiday homes with Swanage, Lyme Regis and Langton Matravers the main hotspots for second homeowners.
Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Homelessness, told us: “You’ve got people who want to come down here and enjoy their holiday home for themselves, then you've got people that run holiday homes as a business and then you've got Airbnb’s.”
Weymouth Town councillor, Jon Orell thinks it’s important to “keep enough houses for locals” and fears that holiday homes are “depriving locals of affordable housing.”
Cllr Carr-Jones replied: “I don’t think it’s for anyone to demonise holiday homeowners. Brits had a love affair with Spain, France and Italy and I think it's been seriously compromised since Brexit so one understands why people want a home by the seaside.”
Figures show there were nearly 2,500 holiday homes in Dorset when the census was taken in 2021. Meanwhile, almost 800 households live in temporary accommodation across the county.
With interest rates sitting at 6% and the price of holiday homes “pushing prices up” coupled with an overall lack of housing in the region, it has never been more difficult for residents to afford a home in the county.
But Cllr Carr-Jones argued that holiday homes are good for the economy. He said: “If you ask builders, gardeners and people who maintain holiday homes or restaurant owners, independent shopkeepers, publicans, they'll probably say it’s great for business.
“Anything that brings cash into Dorset's economy should be welcomed and holiday homes contribute to that economy.
“But housing supply is an issue, so it's about finding that balance within communities and what works where.”
Earlier this year, Dorset Council proposed to double the charges for those who have second homes but plans could only go ahead if the Government put through its Levelling and Regeneration Bill, which was hoped to get Royal Assent on 1st April.
That would mean a change in council tax rates could be brought in from April 2024, as a year's notice is required.
Cllr Graham Carr-Jones believes this would be mistake given what he’s seen happen to local authorities in Wales who opted to increase second home tax, “It’s absolutely backfired on them,” he said.