Coastal communities becoming 'ghost towns' due to second homes and short-term lets, says MLA
An East Derry MLA has called on the NI Executive to address the issue of second homes and short-term lets turning coastal areas into ‘ghost towns’.
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter brought a motion to the Assembly on November 4,saying: “The proliferation of holiday homes and short-term lets in rural and coastal communities across the North is having a real negative impact,” she said.
"We are seeing house prices and rents rise to unsustainable levels, with people being forced out of the area they grew up in. This is destroying the fabric of our communities.
“We are seeing situations where these properties lie empty for large portions of the year, with significant knock-on impacts on businesses who rely on the local community to survive. It is no exaggeration that outside of peak times, we are seeing some areas reduced to ghost towns.
"There must be regulation of this industry so that nobody is forced out of their local community.”