Estate and letting agents are being asked to help with research into how Welsh Government policy and other factors are affecting the housing market in areas popular with visitors.
Visit Pembrokeshire, working with the Wales Tourism Alliance and Propertymark, is urging property agents in the area to take part in round table meetings in early October, to share evidence which will then be presented to the cabinet secretary Jayne Bryant MS, in November.
The Wales Tourism Alliance represents a variety of tourism businesses and organisations across Wales. It also works with partners from other industries in the economy on common causes.
Suzy Davies, Wales Tourism Alliance chairman, said: ‘’There are a range of reasons why owners are selling up in areas of Wales where tourism is a major part of the local economy.
"However, the Welsh Government’s own research suggests that its policies are a number one concern with professional holiday accommodation businesses inadvertently caught up in the drive to control the number of second homes.
“Current observations suggest that second homes coming back onto the market are not improving the supply of affordable housing for local people.
"At the same time, genuine local businesses, misdescribed as second homes, are also having to sell up when they aren’t really the policy’s target - again without providing efficient, affordable homes.
‘’However, we wanted to test what we were told by our own members by gathering feedback from estate agents about what is happening to the housing market in these parts of Wales; whether Welsh Government policy is achieving its stated aims, and what any collateral damage looks like."
Emma Thornton, chief executive of Visit Pembrokeshire, said: “We’re pleased to be supporting this event and to help to gather this important data for Pembrokeshire.
"We’re hearing from many of our self-catering operators that current Welsh Government policy to control the number of second homes is significantly impacting their businesses and for some, putting them at risk of becoming unviable.”
Any property agents wishing to take part in the online meetings on October 7 and 8 should contact either the Wales Tourism Alliance at bethan@wta.org.uk or policy@propertymark.co.uk. Spaces are limited. Written observations are also welcome.
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