Does selling furnished holiday lets free up affordable housing in tourism hotspots?

Welsh estate and letting agents are being asked to help with research into how Welsh government policy and other factors are affecting the housing market in parts of Wales popular with visitors.

Wales Tourism Alliance and Propertymark are inviting agents to participate in a series of round table meetings in early October, sharing first-hand evidence which will be presented to the cabinet secretary, Jayne Bryant MS, in November.

The work continues in partnership with destination management/marketing organisations Mid Wales Tourism, North Wales Tourism and Visit Pembroke to try and better understand the effect of various Welsh Government policies in those areas.

The Wales Tourism Alliance represents a variety of tourism businesses and organisations across Wales through its members who are, themselves, leaders of different sectors within the industry. They also work with partners from other industries in the economy on common causes.

Suzy Davies, Wales Tourism Alliance Chair, said: “There are a range of reasons why owners are selling up in areas of Wales where tourism is a major part of the local economy. However, the Welsh government’s own research suggests that its policies are a number one concern with professional holiday accommodation businesses inadvertently caught up in the drive to control the number of second homes.

“Current observations suggests that second homes coming back onto the market are not improving the supply of affordable housing for local people. At the same time, genuine local businesses, misdescribed as second homes, are also having to sell up when they aren’t really the policy’s target – again without providing efficient, affordable homes.

“However, we wanted to test what we were told by our own members by gathering feedback from estate agents about what is happening to the housing market in these parts of Wales; whether Welsh Government policy is achieving its stated aims, and what any collateral damage looks like.”

Propertymark’s Tim Thomas added: “Propertymark is very happy to act as an independent partner to this important research. The Welsh Government has implemented a series of policies to regulate short-term and holiday lets in Wales. I am confident our members and any other property agents wishing to take part in the study, will provide insightful feedback on the impact the legislation is having on housing, tourism and the overall impact on the Welsh economy.”

Any property agents wishing to take part in the online round table meetings on 7th and 8th of October are invited to contact either the Wales Tourism Alliance at bethan@wta.org.uk or policy@propertymark.co.uk.