Holiday let ruling anger
A court ruling against Caradon council on the use of former council houses as holiday lets, may lead to a 'devastating social and economic calamity,' an MP has claimed.
A Truro county court judge, Ian MacIntosh, ruled last week that the owners of two former council houses in Polruan, bought under the previous Conservative government's 'right to buy' programme, were allowed to let them to holidaymakers. He said restrictions that prevented 'business use' did not apply to holiday lets.
North Cornwall's MP, Paul Tyler said the judge's decision should ring 'alarm bells for every rural community in the West Country and other holiday areas.'
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Speaking at the House of Commons on Tuesday Mr Tyler announced he was making urgent representations to the deputy prime minister, John Prescott, asking for immediate clarification.
He said: 'These properties were originally built with taxpayers' and ratepayers' money. The forced sales in the l980s were bad enough, reducing available homes for rent , but to allow people to turn them into commercial holiday lets is ridiculous. Already many of these communities are losing out. A spokesman for Caradon said: 'Former council houses in Polruan, which is an area of outstanding natural beauty, are being used for holiday lets. A covenant prohibits the use of the properties for business purposes.
'Contrary to the council's view, his honour, Judge MacIntosh, ruled that holiday letting does not amount to a business use.
The council is considering whether or not to appeal against this decision.'