Second homes lying empty  in some of the most beautiful seaside locations in the country threaten to turn local communities into “ghost towns”.

Difficult economic conditions and a sluggish housing market,  staycations are creating a perfect storm sucking the life out of traditional destinations.

Many properties bought as holiday lets are now reportedly being sold to second home seekers, some from as far away as the US and the Far East.

Once bought, the additional homes can be left empty for months at a time with no tourists staying in them.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Katie Warren, a property buyer and town councillor in Redruth, Cornwall, said: “Second homes serve no economic value. A furnished holiday let is a source of income to counties like Cornwall.

“A second home that is used six weeks of the year does little to support the local economy or its people.

“We will end up with streets of often-empty fishing cottages. We will end up creating ghost towns. It is an unintended consequence of tax and regulation when the Government doesn’t really understand the positive economic impact of the sector.”

Craig Fuller, a buying agent, echoed the concerns of the councillor and said many second home buyers did not even live in the UK.

He added”Overseas buyers continue to increase in number despite being affected by significant stamp duty hikes, especially from the US, alongside growing interest from Dubai and Singapore. This trend is likely to stay.”

The Telegraph said hotspots in Cornwall were being particularly hit hard, with locations like Cawsand, on the Rame Peninsula, as well as Padstow, St Ives and Port Isaac, all suffering.

Across the border in Devon, Ifracombe and Dartmouth were also experiencing a slump, as well as elsewhere in the country, such as Abersoch in Wales.

CornwallLive reports that Cornwall is suffering the ‘heartache’ of a housing crisis, with over 13,000 second homes and 24,300 holiday lets registered in 2024, but with 27,000 families on the waiting list for social housing.

Speaking in the House of Commons in October, Jayne Kirkham, Labour MP for Truro and Falmouth, said: “There are 24,300 holiday let properties in Cornwall, which is up 30 per cent on 2019.

“Statistics from the council tax base tell us there are also approximately over 13,000 second homes registered in Cornwall – that’s nearly five per cent of the total housing stock; five times higher than the average across England.

Speaking in the House of Commons in October, Jayne Kirkham, Labour MP for Truro and Falmouth, said: “Statistics from the council tax base tell us there are also approximately over 13,000 second homes registered in Cornwall – that’s nearly five per cent of the total housing stock; five times higher than the average across England.”

Ms Kirkham added that Cornish residents seeking to rent often had to make difficult decisions depending on the stipulations of their rental agreement, she added: “Many people are shut out of the market if they have children, pets or are on benefits and changes to stop that happening will prevent the most vulnerable in my constituency remaining unhoused and the heartache as people decide to give up their treasured pets.”