Lincoln cathedral (Image: Getty)
has become a hotspot for second homes – with a 72.5% increase in numbers in just one year.
The little c, in the East Midlands, is soaring in popularity with people looking for a second place to call home.
Properties classed as second homes in Lincoln have risen from 608 to 1,049 since 2023, according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Now Kelly Turner, from Newton Fallowell estate agents in , has revealed why she thinks the location is hitting the spot for property hunters – including its university, transport links and lower house prices.
She said: “Its university is doing well, it has historical links similar to York, and transport links so you’re not a million miles away from London now.
“With all of those factors, it is quite an up and coming place which outsiders can potentially see a profit on, with being a little lower than other places down south.”
:
Lincoln has soared in popularity with second home owners. (Image: Getty)
However she was surprised by the staggering increase of those looking for a bolthole in the city.
She said: “I wouldn’t say we’ve noticed that much of a dramatic increase, to be honest a lot of landlords decided to sell last year.”
The historic city is home to 100,000 people and is known for its iconic landmarks like Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle and the Brayford Pool waterfront with restaurants and shops. It is also home to the University of Lincoln, which is recognised for its work in supporting the UK’s food and farming industries.
There are now 279,870 houses classed as second homes in England, 16,552 more than in 2023 and 22,957 more than in 2022.
The City of London has the highest proportion of any local authority in England, with one in every four classed as a second home.
Cornwall also remains a second home capital in England, with 14,123 second homes, accounting for one in every 20 dwellings.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We understand the frustration in areas where large numbers of properties are used as second homes and we are determined to tackle this issue.
The university is said to be one major pull of Lincoln (Image: Getty)
Don’t miss… [REPORT] [REVEALED]
Lincoln is pretty and historic. (Image: Getty)
“That’s why we are taking decisive action to protect communities by giving councils powers to charge a council tax premium on second homes and increasing Stamp Duty for those buying additional properties.”
The Government has provided councils with the discretionary power to charge a council tax premium of up to 100% on second homes from next April.
It also announced an increase to the higher rates of on additional dwellings in the Autumn Budget, designed to support people who want to buy a home to live in.
Second homes are desribed as properties that are unlived in but fully furnished, such as AirBnBs or “buy to leave” investments with the expectation that the value will increase.