MP to lead debate in Parliament on second homes crisis

South Lakes MP Tim Farron will lead a debate in Parliament tomorrow on the housing crisis in rural communities caused by the rise in second homes and holiday lets.

In South Lakeland there has been a 32% increase in the number of holiday lets in the district over the past year.

Meanwhile a meeting of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority last year heard that 3,100 of the national park's 12,000 properties were now holiday lets and second homes.

In the debate, Tim will make the case for ministers to change planning law so that local authorities have the power to limit the number of second homes in a community.

Tim's Backbench Business Debate, which is supported by Conservative, SNP, DUP and Plaid Cymru MPs, will take place in Westminster Hall from 1.30pm.

Tim said: "Holiday lets can provide great economic benefit to the local area and of course people are entitled to buy a second home, but the need for families to have a home of their own must come first.

"Here in the Lake District, we've seen a disturbing rise in people being evicted from their home so their landlord can make a quick buck putting it on AirBnB.

"The Government cannot be allowed to sit on their hands for any longer while our communities are turned into ghost towns.

"Tomorrow, we need ministers to commit to giving local councils the power to say when enough is enough."