Two-bedroom cottage goes on sale for £500,000 amid housing crisis

A two-bedroom cottage is going on sale with a guide price of £500,000, amid the housing crisis in west Wales.

The Grade-II listed property, in Uwch Mynydd, near Abersoch, on the Llyn Peninsula, will go on public auction on July 15.

The 300-year-old crog loft cottage, which has been given the name of ‘The Harbour’, and is being marketed by Beresford Adams, has a “proven holiday letting income” according to Rightmove.

The coastal property is surrounded by National trust land, is in an area of outstanding natural beauty, and overlooks Ynys Enlli.

According to the latest figures, house prices in rural west Wales have risen by double digits over the past year, which is making it increasingly difficult for locals to buy homes in their own communities.

The figures released from Principality Building Society’s Wales House Price Index show that over the last year house prices in Gwynedd have shot up 10.3%, have risen by 14.2% in Carmarthenshire, 10% in Ceredigion, and 14.6% on Anglesey.

Principality Building Society said the prices reflected a Covid-induced “race for space” as city dwellers from Wales or England looked to move to more rural areas.

‘Campigners’

Campaigners have called on the Mark Drakeford to get to grips with the housing crisis, following the Senedd election.

Nefyn Town Council has written to the First Minister in an appeal to treat the situation “as a priority”, amid fears that Welsh speaking communities are being hollowed out.

The letter says: “House prices in our area have shot up as a result of a lack control over the purchase of holiday homes.

“As things stand we can’t see a future for our communities as vibrant and sustainable ones for future generations.”

It goes on to urge the First Minister to implement the findings of a Welsh Government commissioned report, compiled by Porthmadog-based academic, Dr Simon Brooks.

The 81 page document recommends 12 policy changes to alleviate the ongoing impact on mainly Welsh speaking areas.

Gwynedd Council housing have noted that as many as 40% of homes sold last year were for second homes.

Dr Brooks also called for a trial of new planning laws that would see a new use class for second homes, thus requiring planning permission to be in place before converting a main residence into a second home or short-term holiday accommodation.

Yesterday the new Minister for Education and the Language promised that the Government will tackle the housing crisis in the most Welsh-speaking areas.

Jeremy Miles said that action was needed “to ensure that we have Welsh-speaking communities that thrive in the future and that people can afford to live in their communities”.

On Radio Cymru’s Dewi Llwyd radio programme, he confirmed that the Government was considering a report by academic Simon Brooks on the problem of second homes.

He described it as a “complex problem”, with several different factors affecting each other – it would be necessary to look at the “complete picture” to find solutions