Rapid Evidence Assessment of the Research ... - Rural Housing

Rapid Evidence Assessment of the Research Literature on the Purchase and Use of Second Homes
25. However, neither of these two categories of property include urban second homes that may be used
primarily as a place from which the journey to work occurs, with the ‘main’ residence elsewhere, for example in
a more rural location.
26. Some reports on second homes adopt a very wide definition that combines second homes with categories
of dwellings that are, in other surveys, treated as separate groups. For example, a Direct Line report: ‘Second
Homes in the UK’ (Direct Line, 2005, p3), based on work by the Centre for Future Studies, stated that second
homes are:
16
“Properties in the UK owned or rented out by a household member that are not the main residence of that
household.”
27. This definition does, for example, include buy-to-let properties. In fact, it includes privately rented housing
generally that is rented by individual households.
28. A significant and thorough local analysis of second homes adopted the Countryside Agency (2002a)
definition (Suffolk County Council, 2004). It stated that:
“For the purposes of this project, ‘second homes’ are defined as ‘privately owned properties mainly used
for vacations that are not the sole or main residence of an individual’”
(ibid, p7).
29. The report pointed out that “It is important to note that such holiday homes can take the form of chalets,
which are more akin to a beach hut than a place of potential residence, and may have restricted occupancy
conditions” (ibid, p7).
30.
31.
On a more general level it also noted that:
“It is clear that there is little consistency or clarity around the definition of a second home and associated
data collection,” (ibid, p11) and
“Current data collection methods appear to use different classifications of second homes. The census
definition of ‘secondary residences’ excludes empty dwellings not known to be second homes, posing the
risk of many second homes going unrecorded --- On the other hand, the definition used by the Office for
National Statistics puts together ‘company flats’, ‘holiday houses’ and ‘weekend cottages’ which are all
very different and distinct types of dwellings (p11).”
The report argues that:
“Even within the definition used for this project – there are differential markets. According to estate Agents
FPD Savills, there are two distinct second home markets. ‘The first is the market for holiday or weekend
homes, typically in close proximity to the coast (which makes up the majority of those in Suffolk). The
second is the market in London where commuters, and those trading out of London in recent years, have
acquired flats for weekday use.
Whilst it is clear that there has been an increase in the number of second homes in Suffolk over the past
few years, until there are consistent definitions for data collection, it will remain problematic to draw
together accurate assessments of market growth. For example, in the past some second homeowners
may have classed their ‘rural’ property as their main residence and their (more expensive in Council Tax
terms) urban property as their ‘second home’ so as to incur less Council Tax” (ibid, p11).