We’re not just marketing to second-home customers
BACKLASH AS FIRM CALLS NEW HOUSES ‘PERFECT FOR INVESTORS’
A developer has denied claims it is marketing its new properties to second home owners ahead of local buyers.
Anglesey Homes is currently undertaking projects in the popular seaside resort of Rhosneigr and nearby Llanfaelog.
But the company has been criticised for the way it has marketed the properties on its website and on social media.
This included a message on their Facebook page, that read: “Owning a UK holiday home can be a great investment, and a reliable source of income.
“That’s why Anglesey Homes are building apartments and innovative new houses across coastal areas of North Wales that are perfect for new and experienced investors.”
Welsh language group Cymdeithas yr Iaith said their website was “focused on” selling homes to people outside the area.
In response the company said it wanted to attract local buyers and investors and was signed up to Help to Buy Wales to assist people in this area to purchase a property. This scheme is not available to people buying second homes.
Ynys Môn AM Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “It makes me very uncomfortable to see homes that could and should be available at reasonable prices for local families being marketed as homes to be bought merely for a financial return.
“Young families are being priced out of the market and companies celebrating the fact that ‘investments in the area have seen growth of over 240%’ in house values is insensitive to that reality.
“Yes, tourism is very important to Ynys Môn. Holiday lets are very important too, but we have to look after the needs of our communities and our young people.”
Figures released by the HMRC last year showed that in 2017/18, 36% of the homes sold on Anglesey were to buyers of second homes.
Tamsin Davies, from Cymdeithas yr Iaith, said: “This website is clearly focused on selling holiday homes to people from outside the island. The housing market needs a complete overhaul.
“We’re glad that the Welsh Government has allowed local authorities to increase council tax on second homes, but they need to go much further.
“We need a package of measures such as a Property Act to ensure that prices of homes reflect what is affordable to people on local wages.
“Local people should have the first chance to buy homes when they go on the market and they should only be marketed locally.”
A spokeswoman for Anglesey Homes said: “It is not our intention to market the site purely to second home owners.
“We apologise if that is the impression you have taken from our website.
“You will also see that the site is registered with Help to Buy Wales, to assist local people to buy as homes. “