Tuesday 2 August 2022 10:33 AM Cornwall family are forced to live in Travelodge for FOUR MONTHS due to lack of ... trends now
A struggling family of four who were evicted from their home in Britain's second home capital have been forced to live in a Travelodge for four months due to a lack of affordable housing.
Charlene Pascoe, 34, and her three children, from St Blazey, Cornwall, were left with nowhere to go after being evicted from their rental property in March when their landlord decided to move back in.
They have had to rely on their family and friends who live nearby for meals and play time away from their hotel room.
Ms Pascoe, a support worker for adults with learning difficulties, is from St Blazey, Cornwall, where some areas have up to 40 per cent of properties used as second homes.
During the pandemic, many landlords in Cornwall decided to cash in and sell up to holidaymakers looking to buy second homes in the sought after county.
This further increased prices in the property rental market, with limited affordable housing available for families who permanently reside in Cornwall.
The sheer level of second homes now in the popular holiday destination has caused a shortage in the supply of housing, leaving rent costs soaring.
Mum Charlene Pascoe, 34, and her three children, Freya, 12 (middle), Kieran, ten (right) and Darcy, two (left), have been living in a Travelodge for 15 weeks due to limited affordable housing in Cornwall as second home buyers flood the market
The family have had to rely on their family and friends who live nearby for meals and play time away from their hotel room. Pictured: The Travelodge hotel in St Austell where the family are staying
Ms Pascoe and her three children were living in the popular destination of St Blazey but can no longer find a home due to the influx of second home buyers. (File Image: The nearby Par Sands Beach)
During the pandemic, many landlords in Cornwall decided to cash in and sell up to holidaymakers looking to buy second homes in the sought after county.
This further increased prices in the property rental market, with limited affordable housing available for families who permanently reside in Cornwall.
The sheer level of second homes now in the popular holiday destination has caused a shortage in the supply of housing, leaving rent costs soaring.
Ms Pascoe and her children, Freya, 12, Kieran, ten, and Darcy, two, have been staying at the Travelodge St Austell in Cornwall for 15 weeks with no idea when they will be able to leave.
She said: 'Somebody said to me at the beginning, "look at it like a holiday" - it's most certainly not a holiday.'
Ms Pascoe was unable to find anywhere affordable in the area and their first night after their tenancy ended they spent sleeping on her mum's floor.
Cornwall Council booked the family into a Premier Inn for a week, before they were then moved to the Travelodge in St Austell - where they have been ever since.
Data from Cornwall Council shows where the county's 13,500 second homes were distributed in 2018
Outraged residents of Cornwall have previously criticised claims that the coastal county 'needs' second home owners - despite holidaymakers bringing the area £2 billion a year. Pictured: Graffiti in St Agnes, near Perranporth, from March tells second home owners to 'rent or sell your empty houses'
Now 15 weeks later they are no further forward, and Ms Pascoe is struggling to cope.
The family room has three
