A Labour MP in the westcountry appears to be winning support for a campaign he has launched called First Homes, Not Second Homes.

Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP Luke Pollard says the surge in homes being bought as second properties and holiday homes since the start of the pandemic has “turbo-charged the housing crisis” in the west country, which already has some of the country’s highest house prices and lowest wages.

Pollard’s campaign claims that in Cornwall there are many small communities where more than one third of properties are being used as holiday lets and second homes – for example, St. Minver Lowlands, St. John, St. Minver Highlands and St. Merryn near Padstow.

The First Homes not Second Homes Manifesto calls for:

1. New powers from government for councils to progressively raise taxes on holiday lets and unused second homes, up to a quadrupling of council tax where homes are left empty for much of the year;

2. A licensing regime for second homes, Airbnbs and holiday lets – with a minimum of 51 per cent of homes in any community being for local people. Councils should have the powers to raise this level to reflect local circumstances;

3. A ‘Last Shop in the Village Fund’ – powers for local councils to introduce a Community Infrastructure Levy on holiday lets and Airbnbs, administered by local authorities, to support local shops, pharmacies, post offices, and pubs;

4. Commitment to build affordable homes and social housing across the South West with a priority for local people;

5. Lock in the discount of new homes for future renters and buyers to ensure affordable homes are not lost after the first family moves on.

“The South West is the region most affected by second homes and holiday lets. We welcome people investing and enjoying our region, but we must ensure that local people are not priced and pushed out of their communities” says Pollard. 

“That is why I am calling for the South West to be the first region to commit to a first home not second home strategy so local people don’t have to move out of their community to get a job or a home they can afford.”

Another Labour politician – Jayne Kirkham, leader of the Labour group on Cornwall Council – adds: “In Cornwall we are seeing a collapse of the private rented sector and a dearth of affordable housing causing homelessness. It also creates a barrier to keyworkers coming to fill vital NHS, care, and other jobs cross Cornwall. 

“Since the pandemic, and the surge in domestic tourism we have seen local families evicted across the South West to see their homes turned into second homes and Airbnbs.”