| p>It is estimated that there are over 350,000 people | | | | the time. |
| in the UK who own a second home. | | | | This means that a second property no longer needs |
| Although for some this is a commercial decision, for | | | | to be reserved only for weekends and holidays. In |
| many the step into second home ownership has | | | | future, there will be no reason why some of the |
| been inspired by a dream. Sometimes it is the dream | | | | working week could not be based there just as |
| of being part of a rural community they love. | | | | easily too. Cleaners in Cornwall and those providing |
| Sometimes it is the fantasy of being able to escape | | | | key holder services and property management report |
| to a bolthole they can call their own. | | | | that this trend is already evident, as owners |
| The concept of home ownership, as opposed to | | | | increasingly bring their laptop and BlackBerry with |
| renting which is more common in Europe, is | | | | them. |
| particularly strong in the British psyche, and the rise in | | | | If you are working online, with high speed broadband |
| the popularity of second home ownership in the UK | | | | you can work just as effectively from a seaside |
| reflects that. | | | | cottage in Cornwall or Devon as from an office in the |
| France has long been a popular choice but the | | | | City. |
| combination of the credit crunch and the weakness | | | | It is also likely that some who are forced to |
| of sterling against the Euro has had a big impact this | | | | reconsider their career paths during the recession will |
| year, with sales of holiday homes to people from | | | | decide that a lifestyle change is in order and create a |
| Britain dropping by 50% in 2008. Sales of holiday | | | | new and balanced life that entirely changes where |
| homes in Spain have also shuddered to a near halt. | | | | and how they spend their working time. |
| With sterling looking to stay weak for some time to | | | | The rising profile of the climate change agenda and |
| come, this recession could prove to be a tipping point | | | | the high cost of fuel are combining to bring a sea |
| in the UK holiday home market. | | | | change in attitudes towards air travel. This too will |
| There is evidence that people are beginning to | | | | have a positive impact on the growth of second |
| rethink their priorities and the way they live their | | | | homes in the UK as opposed to overseas. |
| lives. The period of high consumption we have seen | | | | Of course, if the rise of flexible working means that |
| in recent years in the UK may now be over for | | | | people are likely to make more use of their second |
| some time to come. | | | | homes in future, this will also help keep rural |
| People are looking for more balance in their lives. For | | | | communities alive and prevent vital shops and |
| those that can afford to have one, this means that | | | | services from closing down, as a consequence of |
| the weekend cottage is likely to become a more | | | | empty houses and declining numbers of local |
| central part of their lives in future. Not just | | | | residents. |
| somewhere for weekends and holidays, but | | | | Tourist experts predict a bumper year for tourism in |
| somewhere to spend time in the working week too. | | | | the UK in 2009 as the weak pound keeps people at |
| Recent advances in technology make it far easier to | | | | home. The same trend will also show up in the |
| conduct business anytime anywhere and there is | | | | holiday home market as the UK becomes more |
| research by BT that indicates that flexible working | | | | affordable in comparison to the European hotspots. |
| can increase productivity by 15%. The recent | | | | It is even possible that we could see a growing |
| announcement by the UK Government that the right | | | | number of people from overseas look to the UK for |
| to request flexible working will shortly be extended | | | | their holiday homes, attracted by the weak pound |
| to all parents of children up to 16 will give a further | | | | and the weak property market. |
| boost to the number if people who can use | | | | Places like North Cornwall, which already has the |
| technology to work from a remote location such as | | | | highest rate of second home ownership in the UK, |
| a holiday cottage in Cornwall, at least for some of | | | | are likely to be the first to see this new trend. |