One picturesque harbour town appears to be the ultimate place to live, but young people can no longer afford to rent here
Claire Elliott, Cornwall Live readers and Lee Trewhela
06:00, 08 Jan 2026
(Image: Getty)
Porthleven, like many coastal towns and villages across Cornwall, seems like the perfect place to call home. The town has seaside charm and a relaxed, friendly vibe, thanks to its surfing and pub culture. Explore the independent shops and cafes and it feels worlds apart from the uniformity of urban life. Indeed, it seems like the perfect place to live. The problem is, there is nowhere to actually live. Cornwall Live readers have been discussing the reasons why.
Porthleven reflects the Cornish housing crisis in miniature. There is little or nothing available to rent. A quick online search shows empty results, and when something does appear, the prices are absurd – a one-bedroom flat recently went for £900 a month. Young residents can no longer afford to live locally, and locals say the town has become ‘hollowed out’.
Much of the blame is aimed at landlords seeking profit from holiday lets and the unchecked growth of Airbnb. But there is another factor – the Government’s energy performance certificate, or EPC. While it works for modern buildings, it is much harder to meet standards in Cornwall’s older homes. Achieving a lettable standard in an 18th-century fisherman’s cottage is expensive, so many landlords turn to holiday lets, where EPC rules are less demanding.
The rise in tourism and second homes has had a familiar double-edged impact on the town, helping the economy while making housing scarce.
Kelvin Batt, who runs the Mussel Shoal seafood café near the harbour, employs many local young people and says ‘our main concern when we’re employing people is where they will live. I’ve put people up in the campsite before at the top of town, but that’s not ideal. Go on Rightmove or Zoopla – there is not one place to rent. Fine if there’s a place to rent, I could put a handful of staff in there, but there isn’t anything. It’s shocking.’
Some staff have had to find accommodation in neighbouring Helston and walk 2.5 miles to work, he adds ‘Porthleven’s knackered. It’s really unbalanced. I don’t know what the solution is.’
Commenter James Smith says: “Affordable housing for our kids is not just a Cornish problem! It’s a national issue ! Most likely an international problem, look at the Canary Islands and Spain. Build more houses for locals, this creates jobs and housing.”
Dorian Spackman replies: “Seriously? The levels of unemployment and underemployment in Cornwall, coupled with the ridiculous lack of housing mean this is in no way comparable to elsewhere in the country.”
Pat Denham replies: “No, this isn’t just a Cornwall problem. Any scenic UK area, from coasts to National Parks or picturesque towns, faces the same issue. Retirees push up housing costs, forcing younger people into nearby towns on high rents for substandard flats. This creates ageing enclaves that need services but do not support local businesses, while younger workers must commute in to provide health care, cleaning, gardening and repairs. Some areas, like the Lake District, are experimenting with ring-fencing housing for locals to rebalance age demographics. It may reduce council tax revenue, but it helps maintain vibrant, mixed communities.”
Adrian Bell points out: “The locals sold the houses to the outsiders! The locals sold the town down the road, for cash…”
Martin Rodea agrees: “Their greedy relatives sold up long ago making a killing by selling to rich Londoners who want Chelsea by the sea. Cornish people owned all the property, now they have sold it all for millions to rich folk from London, then they complain they can’t afford to live in Cornwall, go figure!”
Gezzy Hays thinks: “Anyone working and born in these tourist locations should automatically be entitled to a plot of land and or property.”
Pete Griffiths retorts: “If people would like to stop outsiders buying houses in Cornwall, would they also be happy if their children who leave to go to university etc and would like to work and live in another place were also stopped?”
Susan Eaves thinks: “Employment is at the root of the problem. If people have good secure jobs they can afford to live locally and it won’t pay to keep a house in use as a holiday home.”
Sharon Holmes believes: “Cornwall Council should prioritise young people’s needs, but they do not. The problem is that social housing is unpopular and there are too many NIMBYs.”
John Williams agrees: “No one should be allowed to own more than two houses in the same country. All these rental rip offs and holiday cottages stop locals living in their own area and drive the prices sky high.”
Jason Dorey says: “It’s simple. Ban holiday lets on residential properties and force owners to sell. House prices drop to levels locals can afford. Hotels and holiday parks expand, creating jobs for the local economy. Modern park homes are still luxurious and destinations remain desirable. Visiting holiday locations should support the community, not disrupt it. Choose a hotel or park home and do the right thing.”
Have you experienced the housing struggle in Porthleven or other Cornish towns? Share your thoughts on how the crisis affects locals and what could be done to fix it.
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