'I feel awful' Woman faces homelessness as all houses in village are second homes

Pam Leach, who has been renting her home for over four years, is being forced to leave her long-time residence in Porlock, Somerset by her landlords. With limited options available, Ms Leach finds herself trapped in a village where affordable housing is scarce.

Ms Leach has said more and more people are being kicked out due to 'no fault evictions', with many renters facing the same fate as her before new legislation is enacted to ban such evictions.

Bailiffs have set a date of July 27 to forcibly remove Ms Leach from her terraced house, where she resides with her three cats. The reason given by her landlords is a desire to downsize and occupy the property themselves.

Ms Leach's despair is intensified by the fact Porlock has become a haven for second homes and holiday rentals. She said: “I just do not know what I am going to do. I feel awful. I have been to Citizen’s Advice, but they did not have anybody who could help.

“I have been to Somerset Council’s offices to talk to the homelessness team and they have not come back with anything and were no help at all. I cannot find anywhere else to live."

The influx of non-resident property owners has driven up housing prices beyond the reach of locals like Ms Leach, leaving them priced out and facing the threat of homelessness.

Of the properties in her area Ms Leach said: "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.”

As a retired graphics designer, Ms Leach has been living on her savings as her pension was so small. She also carries out odd jobs in gardening, landscaping, and painting to make ends meet. However, the village of Doverhay, a part of Porlock, has experienced a surge in second homes and holiday lets in recent years, resulting in inflated prices that Ms Leach simply cannot afford.

Ms Leach said: "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."

In response to the growing concerns, legislation to ban landlords from executing "no fault evictions" was introduced in Parliament in May as part of a broader reform to the rental sector. The aim is to provide greater security and stability for tenants like Ms Leach, who are vulnerable to sudden evictions.

The issue of second homes and holiday rentals has not gone unnoticed by local authorities. Duncan McCanlis, Chairman of the Local Parish Council, acknowledges the impact it has had on the village and its businesses. 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.”

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