Second homes: still a good investment? | Alex Johnson | Independent Property Blogs

Second homes: still a good investment? | Alex Johnson | Independent Property Blogs

There are few property topics which generate as much heated debate as second home ownership. In Switzerland, voters have just agreed to limit the construction of second homes in certain communes, while over here in the UK, a new report from The National Housing Federation suggests that almost three per cent of houses in the Derbyshire Dales are now second homes.
Data suggests that around one per cent of homes in the UK are second residences, though the proportion in some local authorities is much higher, often as much as 10 per cent and in some areas more like 25 per cent. It’s an issue in which the compilers of the Census are particularly interested. As they say: “It is important to understand the issues surrounding multiple residences so that the planning of services for areas with large fluctuations in populations, such as commuter areas and holiday destinations, can be carried out effectively.”
Indeed, Savills’ research into second-home prices suggests that London is increasingly .....