Government promises clampdown on Airbnb-style short lets

Government changes to planning rules around short term lets have been announced, aimed at regulating the sector to give communities more control over housing in their areas.

Housing Secretary Michael Gove is proposing planning permission and a mandatory national register of short lets as well as new rules, which would allow homeowners to let out their main home for up to 90 nights a year.

Local councils would have greater power to control the supply of short-term lets through the planning process. According to Mr Gove, this would benefit people in areas where high numbers of short lets impact on their access to homes for sale and rent.

The mandatory register would give councils information about short lets in their area to boost compliance with health and safety regulations. Mr Gove said: “We know short-term lets can be helpful for the tourist economy, but we are now giving councils the tools to bring them under control so that local people can rent those homes as well.

These changes strike a balance between giving local people access to more affordable housing, while ensuring the visitor economy continues to flourish.” The rules would create a new planning class for short-term lets not used as a sole or main home. Existing short-term lets would be automatically reclassified and would not require a planning application.
Amanda Cupples, general manager for Airbnb in northern Europe welcomed the change.

She said: “Families who host on Airbnb will benefit from clear rules that support their activity, and local authorities will get access to the information they need to assess and manage housing impacts and keep communities healthy, where necessary.”

Read more about this story on the Landlord Today website.

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