'I'm being evicted and fear being homeless as homes in my village are Airbnbs'

13 July 2023 , 18:19

952     0

Pam Leach faces homelessness as her village has been invaded by second-home owners and holiday lets (Image: Tindle South West / SWNS)

A woman being evicted from her long-time rental property said she faced homelessness - as most houses in her village are second homes or Airbnbs.

Pam Leach has been renting her home for about four years, but her landlords have decided to turf her out - in a "no-fault eviction" which are soon to be banned in the UK. The retired graphic designer said an increasing number of renters were being kicked out before the new legislation goes through Parliament.

Bailiffs told Ms Leach they'll return on July 27 to forcibly remove her from the terraced house in Porlock, Somerset, where she lives with her three cats.

The retired woman, who has three cats, has been renting her home for around four years (Tindle South West / SWNS)

Her landlords said they wanted to downsize and live in the house themselves. Ms Leach, though, said she will not be able to stay in her village as it is full of Airbnbs or second homes. She's been priced out of living in the area she was born in, and is threatened with homelessness.

"I just do not know what I am going to do. I feel awful," the former graphic designer said.

'Invisible' mirror home hits market for $18million – made entirely of glass

"I have been to Citizen’s Advice, but they did not have anybody who could help.

"Everything locally up to about £865,000 has been bought up by people from out of Porlock mainly using them for weekends or once a month, not even living in them properly."

Ms Leach said she had been living on her savings because her pension was so small and doing odd jobs gardening and landscaping and painting to get by.

However, her village of Doverhay, an area of Porlock, has in recent years become inundated by people buying second homes and setting up holiday lets - driving up prices beyond her means.

Ms Leach added: “It seems a huge coincidence that they are doing this just before they bring in legislation to prevent ‘no fault evictions’. I have not defaulted on a penny."

The former graphic designer is unhappy with authorities in Porlock, Somerset (Tindle South West / SWNS)

Legislation banning landlords from "no-fault evictions" was tabled in Parliament in May as part of a wider reform to renting.

Local Parish council chairman Cllr Duncan McCanlis said that the issue of holiday lets and second homes is being reviewed, and has left local businesses struggling to hire staff.

He said: "It is a major issue in the village, I absolutely understand that. We are really well aware of it, but it is outside the parish council’s powers and we have other priorities, so we will be pursuing it through the LCN."

Ed Cullinane