ONLY an estate agent or someone with a similar financial interest in pushing up house prices would describe a demand from “second-home purchasers from London” as an “encouragingly healthy” situation for the local housing market, as was the case in your recent article on the ever increasing house prices.

Only when those with the money to spare for second or third homes or to use in buying property as an investment and income-generating vehicle are properly taxed to make it a less attractive financial prospect will first-time buyers have any chance of getting on to the property ladder.

Until then, those wanting to buy a house as a home can only look on enviously.

DAVID WILLIAMS

Gloucester Road Cirencester