Holiday Homes

Trying to dodge tax I suspect.

Yet again I am so tempted to utter the Victor Meldrew response.
Leave you to work that out for yourselves

Primrose, I remember that book!
I rented a very large house for my seventieth birthday and one in London would appeal for any future celebrations...assuming I'm around to book it, of course.

Primrose53

We know a couple who own two huge houses in large gardens in the same village. Swimming pools, stream through the garden, pretty landscaped gardens with woodland, sauna, gyms etc. each house is fully furnished and they live in each one 6 months of the year.

Avoiding capital gains tax?

valdali

In the middle of a never-ending attempt to declutter here, so glad I've only got 4 bedrooms! If I had 17, I'd be able to open a second hand shop!

How weird the couple with 2 big houses in the same village who live in each for 6 months of the year? Just can't think why you would.

They bought their first house and when the people across the road decided to move they bought that too so they could let family and friends use it and also guarantee they would not have horrible neighbours opposite.

Barleyfields

The OP might have a high brick wall on the boundary of her ‘land’ but does she own it? If not the new people might knock it down. High walls tend to cost a bit to maintain.

It is our wall

And I felt a bit guilty having a 7 bedroom French house that I holiday in myself a couple of times a year and just let family and friends use it when they want to. I feel a bit guilty it's empty so much of the time.

A wall doesn't necessarily keep noise from all the partying and rable if its turned into a party place. Fingers crossed it has been bought as a genuine holiday home for one family.

None of your business.

and all the homeless people here! I can`t help but think of them

polnan

and all the homeless people here! I can`t help but think of them

The problem isn’t people bro g able to afford a holiday home though the onus is on the government to legislate so that only a percentage of homes in any one area of the UK can be owned as a holiday rentals so that locals are not priced out of the market. Also there needs to be legislation to ensure that local councils make sure that empty properties in their jurisdiction are not left empty for long, already legislation last April means that owners have to pay double the council tax on a property left empty for longer than a year. All affordable housing needs to be freed up and the government needs to fund councils to prioritise this.

Sorry predictive text went berserk in that first line, should read - the problem isn’t people being able to afford a holiday home though

You can only sit on one chair. Hold a book and a glass of wine.
For complete comfort.
I do like small places though…. Always have.
Less upkeep, less housework (#lazygran!) and less utility bills.

If I had pots of money I might feel differently. But being lazy I’d want help. A gardener, a cleaner for starters.

Not likely I’ll increase my modest bank account though so it’s a good job I’m content with my lot in life. 😊

About 3 years ago we rented from Air bnb a lovely cottage in the grounds of a beautiful mansion house in the Scottish Borders. Apparently the house and cottage was owned by wealthy Russians who were using it as a holiday home.
One day walking through the extensive grounds and woodland we came across a large wooden building with pens that looked newly built, As we approached the noise of dogs barking seemed very scary. Inside the pens were about 12 what we later found out were Borzoi dogs. They were being bred to sell.
I kept wondering who looked after the dogs when owners were away but suppose they had staff.
Some locals said quite a few of the large houses in Scotland and I imagine in all parts of UK are being bought by wealthy Middle Easterns and Russians.

17. Bedrooms definitely qualifies as a mansion, depending on their location many are divided up into apartments, Air BnB not really likely.
Who needs 17 bedrooms for anything these days?.

If you see a property that has been left empty & neglected there is a reward system for notifying the local council .
Not sure of the exact details but it will be easy enough to look up on line , i imagine.

Primrose53

We know a couple who own two huge houses in large gardens in the same village. Swimming pools, stream through the garden, pretty landscaped gardens with woodland, sauna, gyms etc. each house is fully furnished and they live in each one 6 months of the year.

That’s just odd & bizzare !!!!

Hotel or flats. Too big for anything else really I would think.
Bedsits . Or god forbid a hostel to house immigrants.!

Primrose 53, no I have not read that book, sounds intriguing.

Back in the day particularly in the Victorian era large homes were built for merchants etc.
These homes may have housed more than 1 generation and also needed rooms for live in staff.
It is in my opinion a good thing that there are people with the wealth to maintain these properties.
Why is everyone so sceptical?

Crazyh, I never invited my neighbour in. I just don't. It was at times a strain just being in the garden and trying to get away. The lady had, I think issues and her situation was all very unfortunate. My neighbours are lovely, but we don't live our lives in each other's homes. I prefer it that way and so do they. Your neighbour sounds rather lonely, but often, sadly , people are lonely for a reason.

Hmm it depends on who has bought it and why. Could be going to house the homeless or newcomers. Guaranteed rent if you let to the council. I can’t see it as Airbnb somehow and it depends on what area of the country we are talking about.

DH has just said it might be a care home. Depends on the need I suppose.

Frankly, I feel it’s utterly immoral for people to have holiday homes of that size, when so many normal, hard-working people in low paid jobs are living in cramped housing paying exorbitant private rents.

Sorry, just my opinion.

When all of our citizens have suitable and appropriate, safe, warm & affordable housing, then fill your boots

So if you own a 17 bedroom house that you no longer want, and need to sell, what are you supposed to do?