House price rise in holiday home crackdown county sparks 'not going to plan' claim

Wales Online

16-05-2025

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North Wales Live readers have been discussing the effects of Gwynedd's housing policies on local property prices, following reports that values have recovered after concerns that a clampdown on holiday homes had caused a "plunge". Cyngor Gwynedd is at the forefront of councils taking action to control second home numbers.
The council has imposed a 150% council tax premium on second homes and pioneered the use of Article 4 directives, requiring planning permission to convert residential properties into holiday lets or second homes.
These steps are intended to safeguard community balance in areas popular with holidaymakers and to help more local people afford homes in their area.
The council has taken these actions in response to the fact that approximately two-thirds of the county's residents were being priced out of the market, particularly in areas with high concentrations of holiday homes.
Ofcourseitis says: "12% down and 4.9% up isn't a bounce back, its still massively down on where it started, all as a result of Gwynedd council policies."
SCATHINGPEN writes: "Oops! Things not exactly going to plan. At least for Plaid. Wasn't the 'let's make it difficult for anyone to own or keep owning a second home' plan supposed to make homes cheaper for locals while driving those pesky second home owners away? Not having the desired effect? Well, at least the councils are happy. All that extra dosh to play with."
Lee77 believes: "Put the second home council tax up higher. Squeeze them until the pips squeak. It's extra coffers in the pot for the Council, which is good for permanent residents."
Tomosb81 states: "This should not be looked at in isolation. People may want to or need to sell a house in Gwynedd and buy a house elsewhere in the UK for work reasons, family reasons, etc. So it is also important to consider how house prices in Gwynedd have moved relative to house prices elsewhere.
"To illustrate: In Q4 2024 Principality reported that while Gwynedd prices fell by 12.4%, Carmarthenshire prices rose by 9.2%. In Q1 2025 Principality reported that while Gwynedd prices rose by 4.9%, Carmarthenshire prices also rose by 2.7%. So across the last 2 quarters, Gwynedd prices have fallen 7.5% while Carmarthenshire prices have risen by 11.9%. That is a massive divergence of 19.4%.
"Good luck to anyone who may need to move from here to there. This is an extreme example, but it is not unrepresentative of the general pattern. If someone never intends to move away then this may not be an issue. But for everyone else, it is. Consider a nurse at Ysbyty Gwynedd who gets a fantastic promotion to work in a hospital elsewhere and can't afford to move."
Indigodebz adds: "Surely this is proof the concept isn't working? Isn't the whole point supposed to be to make homes cheaper?"
Tomosb81 writes: "Prices are not up year on year. They are up in the first quarter of 2025, following a much larger fall in 2024. Year on year Gwynedd house prices are significantly down."
Ofcourseitis replies: "House prices in Gwynedd that dropped by 12% would need to rise by 14% to get back to where they were before."
Morpick says: "Houses will still not be 'affordable' as there are not the jobs available to support mortgages. But all the fuss diverts attention away from the inadequacies of the council to provide such housing and the premiums help to fund the gold plated pensions of council staff."
Do you feel that the council's policy is working? Join in the conversation HERE or in the comments below.