Before lockdown, just three per cent of Britons had a retreat in the countryside or the coast.

Since then, every rich city-dweller has seemingly made the move to greener pastures.

However, not everyone is delighted with that.

Escalating property prices often price locals out of their hometowns.

To counter this, second homeowners in England could face paying twice the amount of council tax from April 2025.

While in Wales (as of April 2023) the maximum level at which local authorities can set council tax premiums for second homes has already increased to 300 per cent.

Those rich enough, however, will unlikely be put off. Hence why locals are typically unwelcoming to second homeowners.

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The Lake District is 'unwelcoming' to second homeowners

The Daily Mail said: "Ill feeling towards second homeowners is at an all-time high in The Lake District.

"Run your eyes over local graffiti and soon you'll notice stickers reading 'F*** your second homes', with a drawing of a house going up in flames. Cumbria police describe the stickers as 'concerning'. 

"Andy Beeforth OBE, CEO of Cumbria Community Foundation, explained the back story to the locals' gripes. 'The significant increase in the number of holiday lets in the past few years has reduced the availability of housing for local people, as well as reducing the council tax revenue which pays for local services.'"

"Earlier this year the council implemented a council tax premium which means second homeowners will have to pay a 200 per cent council tax bill."