Areas of Gwynedd with biggest second home drops - and where numbers have risen

Second home numbers in Gwynedd fell by 5% in the past 12 months following a rise in council tax premiums, according to new figures. However the falls were proportionately much smaller in areas with highest densities of second homes, such as the Llŷn Peninsula.

One part of the county even saw a rise in second home numbers despite last year’s hike in the council tax premium from 100% to 150%. An extra four properties in the Bethesda area were charged the premium in the year to April 2024, according to Welsh Government figures.

The data suggests that people living in traditional coastal hotspots are managing to hold onto their second homes while others have been quicker to let them go. The biggest falls were in communities such as Bangor City, Caernarfon East, and Bala & Mawddwy.

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The figures were compiled based on MSOA areas – those with around 8,000 residents in each. These show that second home ownership in Gwynedd continues to be dominated by two MSOAs – Abersoch & Aberdaron and Tywyn & Llangelynnin. In the former, second homes account for 28% of all properties, in the latter it’s 18%.

Tywyn & Llangelynnin, which hosts a large proportion of caravans, matched the country trend, with a 5% fall in second homes (down 42). In Abersoch & Aberdaron, where most second homes are detached houses, numbers fell only 0.9% (down eight).

In contrast, second home numbers in Bangor City plunged 29.3%, though from a much lower base. There was also a sizeable fall in Bala & Mawddwy, down 14.5%.

Of the 810 second homes in Tywyn & Llangelynnin, just 74% were charged a premium, much lower than the county average. This was mostly due to the higher proportion of caravans and chalets – these account for a fifth of all chargeable second homes in the area. The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now - here’s how to sign up

Across Gwynedd, only 20 caravans and chalets paid the second home premium, just 4% of the total. Many of these cannot be occupied for the whole year and so owners are not required to pay a premium. In contrast, 94% of detached houses (1,570) paid the premium, and 91% of semis (470).

Overall, there were 232 fewer chargeable second homes in the county in April 2024 compared with April 2023. This was despite 620 properties being newly classified as second homes in 2024. Of these, 44% had been previously classed as a primary residence. The rest were either empty, given an exemption, reclassified or were newly built.

Further pressure on second homes – and holiday lets – is expected to follow the imposition of an Article 4 direction in Gwynedd (excepting Eryri). Enforced from September 1, this requires owners to obtain planning consent to turn their properties into a second home or short-term holiday let.

Eryri (Snowdonia) is looking to follow suit in June 2025 in the parts of Gwynedd and Conwy covered by the National Park authority. Critics in the Gwynedd Article 4 area have lodged with the High Court seeking permission for a judicial review of the measure. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday

Biggest percentage falls in second homes in the year to April 2024

1) Bangor City

• Number of second homes: 70

• Difference since 2023: -29

• % change on 2023: -29.3%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 79%

2) Caernarfon East

• Number of second homes: 25

• Difference since 2023: -5

• % change on 2023: -16.7%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 96%

3) Bala & Mawddwy

• Number of second homes: 142

• Difference since 2023: -24

• % change on 2023: -14.5%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 85%

4) Bethel & Llanrug

• Number of second homes: 81

• Difference since 2023: -12

• % change on 2023: -12.9%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 96%

5) Harlech & Llanbedr

• Number of second homes: 336

• Difference since 2023: -30

• % change on 2023: -8.2%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 89%

6) Pen-y-groes, Tal-y-sarn & Dyffryn Nantlle

• Number of second homes: 104

• Difference since 2023: -8

• % change on 2023: -7.1%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 94%

7) Llanberis & Deiniolen

• Number of second homes: 68

• Difference since 2023: -5

• % change on 2023: -6.8%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 94%

8) Blaenau Ffestiniog & Trawsfynydd

• Number of second homes: 392

• Difference since 2023: -28

• % change on 2023: -6.7%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 38%

9) Barmouth & Dolgellau

• Number of second homes: 280

• Difference since 2023: -10

• % change on 2023: -6.4%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 97%

10) Tywyn & Llangelynnin

• Number of second homes: 806

• Difference since 2023: -42

• % change on 2023: -5.0%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 74%

11) Pwllheli & Morfa Nefyn

• Number of second homes: 373

• Difference since 2023: -14

• % change on 2023: -3.6%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 92%

12) Porthmadog

• Number of second homes: 400

• Difference since 2023: -10

• % change on 2023: -2.4%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 94%

13) Cricieth & Llanaelhaearn

• Difference since 2023: -2

• Number of second homes: 204

• % change on 2023: -1.0%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 88%

14) Abersoch & Aberdaron

• Number of second homes: 894

• Difference since 2023: -8

• % change on 2023: -0.9%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 94%

15) Caernarfon West & Waunfawr

• Number of second homes: 99

• Difference since 2023: 0

• % change on 2023: 0%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 55%

16) Bangor South

• Number of second homes: 29

• Difference since 2023: 0

• % change on 2023: 0%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 86%

17) Bethesda

• Number of second homes: 70

• Difference since 2023: +4

• % change on 2023: +6.1%

• % of second homes charged a premium: 89%

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