Airbnbs and second homes are sapping the heart out of Whitstable's communities, warn life-long residents.

Town stalwarts say while they welcome visitors, the huge number of second-home owners and hundreds of holiday rentals are threatening the town’s identity.

The comments come after Whitstable was named in the Sunday Times list of best places to live by the sea in the UK, coming in at number 10 out of 17.

It is described as “Wandsworth high street on a weekend” with a “nuanced blend of fashionable and family-friendly” and “a high street that will leave anyone starved of independent shops salivating”.

It also points out the large number of second homes and the eye-watering £750,000
cost of a three-bed waterfront house.

Chris Stone, who has lived in Whitstable since 1984, says for people who were brought up in the town it is becoming increasingly difficult to stay due to the rocketing house prices.

His own son moved to Folkestone, unable to afford to live in the place he grew up.

Mr Stone - a columnist for KentOnline's sister paper, the Kentish Gazette - believes the abundance of Airbnb properties is also having a detrimental impact on once close-knit communities.

“In the harbour area particularly, because they are terraced houses, there used to be a
very strong community feel,” he said.

“I know for a fact in Sydenham Street half of the road is empty and it saps the heart out.

“As a postie, I try to deliver to a neighbour if someone isn’t there, but there aren’t any neighbours anymore.”

"As a postie, I try to deliver to a neighbour if someone isn’t there, but there aren’t any neighbours anymore" - Chris Stone

One look at the holiday rental website shows more than 300 properties are available for tourists to rent in Whitstable, many in the heart of the town.

Mr Stone says despite the influx of people moving in, there remains a strong, long-standing art community.

“At one stage it was very cheap and students and artists lived here.

“It is a great place to live. It’s got a great high street. It just gets hard to stay here because of the cost.”

Brian Hitcham, of Graystone Road, has lived in Whitstable for 57 years and is president of the town’s Chamber of Commerce.

He says its new-found popularity is a double-edged sword.

“It’s great it’s so popular and has come to so many people’s attention that they want to live here,” he said.

“The downside is when people have a second home as opposed to being here all the time.

“It means we have all these empty houses which has an affect on the community feel.”

He says traditionally, houses in Albert Street and Sydenham Street were starter homes
for families who would shop in the town and use the schools.

“Now a lot of them are owned by second home owners,” he said.

“They’re now £400,000 to £500,000. I remember when they were £25,000. People from the town can’t afford to live there and it means there is a smaller community.”

He points out that locals are not against visitors, who he says are crucial for the economy.

“If we didn’t have them the town would go backwards,” he said.

“It was quite a run down place when I was growing up. The changes are beneficial but there needs to be balance.”