Is this why young people struggle to buy houses in Wales? | BBC News

What do affordable housing, arsonists, tourism, the Welsh language and council tax have in common?

The answer... second homes.

In some parts of Wales, second homes make up nearly a third of all properties. For local young people trying to buy their first home, that raises a big question - are second homes pricing them out of the communities they grew up in?

In this video, we explore the impact of second-home ownership on housing affordability, local culture and community life in Wales. We hear from residents, experts and policymakers to find out whether second homes are a problem, or whether there are other factors making it harder for young people to get on the housing ladder.

From economics and housing policy to tourism and the Welsh language, this is a story about far more than property.

In this video:

00:00 – 30% of houses are second homes in certain parts of Wales 00:47 – Rhodri's perspective as a young local from Crymych 01:27 – Who is buying second homes in Wales? 01:58 – Gareth Lewis breaks down why second homes are so complicated 03:21 – The impact of second homes in local communities 03:54 – 'The Right to Live at Home' campaign 04:46 – Meet Wynfford – he's been campaigning since the 70s 05:29 – The campaign against second homes turns violent 08:00 – Council tax & planning permission explained 09:00 – Scenario 1: the costs behind a private second home 09:41 – Scenario 2: the costs behind renting a second home 10:31 – Beverley's view as a second home owner 11:27 – Gwynedd, the county with the MOST second homes in Wales 12:04 – Carol's view as a local landlord 13:28 – Greg's perspective as a young local from the Gower Peninsula 13:52 – ... and it isn't just Wales facing this issue 14:50 – What happens next? Gareth Lewis explains

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