People in second home hotspots could be able to try sell their homes locally first as part of Welsh Government plans to keep homes in the community. In a bid to ensure homes, particularly those in Welsh language heartlands can stay in local ownership, a plan for a voluntary "fair chance scheme" which allows properties to be marketed locally only for a fixed period has been announced.
Welsh language minister Jeremy Miles announced the plan at the Eisteddfod in Tregaron. He said they want to work with estate agents who have a "key role" because they know their local housing market well.
"We often hear about houses being sold before they go on the market, or being sold quickly to buyers with enough means to buy them—often without the need for a mortgage. Do remember that estate agents don’t decide who buys a property. The final decision is, of course, in the hands of the seller. We also sometimes hear about sellers accepting lower prices from local people, sellers giving people sufficient time to arrange a mortgage and also people putting covenants on their properties. There are examples of individuals inheriting housing and wanting to ensure that they remain homes for local families. There are examples of sellers helping buyers, which is why we’ll be setting up a fair chance scheme for local people.
