The beginning of new restrictions on second homes and holiday lets in Eryri National Park – formerly Snowdonia – has prompted a furious response from locals in the region.

The Article 4 Direction, which came into force on June 1, 2025, removes permitted rights over the change of use of main homes to second homes or short-term holiday lets.

According to Keira Sweenie, Director of Planning and Partnerships at Eryri National Park Authority, the move provides “more control” over local housing stock, with some areas having up to 45% of properties that are second homes or holiday lets. The new rules require planning permission for any conversion of primary residences to holiday use.

15% limit

A 15% limit has now been set for holiday or second homes in specific locations, with annual reviews planned to monitor the policy’s effectiveness. Sweenie told a recent committee meeting that a review in a year would be “very sensible” as “nobody knows what the impact of the guidance will be.”

However, the restrictions have prompted an avalanche of criticism from Daily Post readers who view the measures as heavy-handed government interference.

The problem is lack of jobs.”

Many of those who wrote in questioned whether second homes and holiday lets were the real issue. One argued: “The problem is lack of jobs. On average property in North Wales is very cheap.”

Another, Llanpeter, agreed, saying: “I think that’s the point: the problem is jobs and the income that comes with them. The rest is a consequence, whether it’s housing, poverty, lack of opportunity or whatever.”

Government overreach

Others were more concerned about Government overreach, with one man commenting: “Control of housing is control of a major asset, control of income and ultimately, control of someone’s money.

This argument about the housing crisis caused by holiday lets second homes is a false flag. It has been from the start. There are plenty of homes that are cheap enough to be affordable for locals, if employed.”

Shades of a ‘Big Brother’ state.”

And Morpick added: “Sadly shades of a ‘Big Brother’ state that will have zero impact on the availability of affordable homes. Just takes attention away from the council and their lack of priority given to the provision of such accommodation for generations.”

Welsh tourism

Most of the respondents, though, highlighted the economic benefits that second homeowners bring, as one pointed out: “All those houses have been sold to outsiders by locals to get a higher price for them, so who is most at fault the locals selling out their neighbours or the outsiders buying a house put up for sale on the open market?

“If all the houses were owned by locals how would they make a living as there’s very little local employment, the hard fact is Wales needs tourism to survive.”

Basic economics

And there was also a warning of unintended consequences: “Basic economics means that if you take an asset (a primary home) and impose a massive selling restriction on it (can only be sold as a primary home), then the value of that asset will fall.

“The only primary homeowners who may be unaffected by this are those who never intend to leave Gwynedd/Eryri. They continue to say ‘We need house prices to crash’. But it is incredibly selfish to everyone else who may need at some point to sell their home to move away for a multitude of reasons, or to fund care homes.”