One in four houses bought last year in Weymouth and Portland and West Dorset were purchased as second homes or properties to rent out, according to HRMC figures.

Data shows that second home buyers were undeterred by new taxes on extra properties.

A second home is defined by HMRC as a property that is bought by buyers who already have primary residences.

Last year, 26 per cent of the properties sold in Weymouth and Portland were classified as second homes. Around 380 were bought in the financial year 2017-18, with a combined value of £95 million.

Last year 24 per cent of the properties sold in West Dorset were classified as second homes. Around 540 were bought in the financial year 2017-18, with a combined value of £171 million. Since 2016-17 the number of second homes bought in Weymouth and Portland increased by 27 per cent, and West Dorset saw an increase of 13 per cent.

That’s despite an extra three per cent stamp duty charge on additional properties, introduced in April 2016 as part of a government effort to deter buy-to-let landlords, property investors and second home owners.

Cllr Tim Yarker, West Dorset District Council portfolio holder for housing believes buy-to-let homes should not be included in the study. 

He said: “I’m not seeing any increase in actual second homes in our statistics - we keep a close eye on that. 

“The private rented sector makes an important contribution. Reasons behind rising house prices are complex - the best thing we can do is carry on building homes.”

However Dorchester town councillor Alistair Chisholm said the figures are “outrageous”. 

“As long as people continue to believe that the best place for their money is the private rented sector, the spiral of increasing prices will be driven ever upwards. It’s impossible for people to even see the bottom of the ladder let alone climb it.

“Wages have always been lower in Dorset - there is very little chance for young people to buy”. 

Borough council Hosing Briefholder Councillor Gill Taylor said: “In Weymouth & Portland there is a shortage of private rented properties, so an increase in buy-to-let homes is something I would encourage.
“Weymouth & Portland Borough Council is encouraging the development of more affordable homes through the Accelerating Homes Programme.”