Planning permission for second homes Planning permission for second homes The Institute for Social Inventions has promoted this proposal, originally put to the Institute in the following letter by Desmond Banks of London W10. The use of houses that would otherwise be occupied by local people as second homes can blight rural communities.
Absent owners contribute nothing to community life.
If local people have to compete with outsiders for property, prices must inevitably rise, perhaps putting them out of reach. A second home could be defined as 'a residential property that is occupied upon less than 91 days in any calendar year' ' If you want to use a residential property for business purposes, you have to obtain planning permission. You should have to obtain planning permission, too, if you want to use a house as a second home. Permission should only be granted if the local council is satisfied that the house or flat is not needed to accommodate local people or is unsuitable. Existing second homes will be exempt.