THE threat of Government penalties on second home owners in the UK has led to the formation of a campaign group to fight for their rights.

Retired businessman Paul Rouse has launched the Association of Second Home Owners to provide a voice for the thousands of people who own second homes in Britain.

He says they currently contribute about £2bn in taxes to the economy, yet have no representation - and is setting up a fighting fund to ensure their views are heard.

Mr Rouse, who lives near York, is the former director of a string of blue-chip companies and also a second home owner.

The formation of the association was triggered by the Government setting up the Commission for Affordable Rural Housing, which will look into second home ownership. That followed campaigns by MPs and a number of rural pressure groups claiming that second home owners are largely responsible for the shortage of affordable rural housing,

But Mr Rouse believes Britain's 230,000 second home owners have become easy targets for the politicians and is now calling on them to support his campaign.

"More than half of second home owners use only a fraction of local services but pay tremendous taxes," he said.

"Over half of our members rent out their properties as holiday lets, making a significant contribution to the local tourist industry. Yet various ministers are on record as saying that second home owners push up prices and deprive local people of affordable housing, particularly in areas such as the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District."

The Government's new commission investigating rural housing issues has no member representing second home owners - an issue the campaign group intends to address.

"We have no voice, nationally or locally, and this has led to the wild allegations of the rural lobby going unchallenged," said Mr Rouse.

"Because second homes are rarely in the constituency in which we have a vote, we cannot hold local politicians accountable for the misinformation put out by the rural pressure groups."

He fears that if some politicians get their way, second homeowners could eventually face taxes even higher than those of first home owners.

Further information is available at at www.associationofsecondhomeowners.com