The Government has published two consultations, both aimed at regulating the short-term letting industry. Short-term holiday lettings and ‘Airbnb’ style rentals form an integral part of the UK’s visitor economy, but the Government recognises the impact of this growing sector on the availability and affordability of rental housing and house prices, particularly in areas such as London and the South of England, where short-term lets are concentrated. Additionally, the Government is concerned that, unlike hotels and B&Bs, it is difficult to monitor compliance with key health and safety regulations by short-term lets.
The Consultation on a Registration Scheme for short-term lets in England draws from responses to a 2022 Call for Evidence, which largely favoured an intervention scheme. 42% of respondents favoured a registration scheme, with most calling for it to be ‘light-touch’ and ‘low-cost’. The Consultation seeks responses about the design and operation of a Registration Scheme for short-term lets in England only – Scotland and Northern Ireland already have short-term let licensing schemes in operation, and Wales is introducing a statutory licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation providers.
The proposed registration scheme would also allow local authorities to monitor the use of premises as short-term lets, and to apply and enforce the use of class changes. The Consultation ‘Introduction of a use class for short term lets and associated permitted development rights’ proposes planning measures that would help local areas have a greater ability to control any future increase in the number of short term lets in their area and support the retention of existing properties to buy or to rent. The measures will only apply to England. It will include a new short-term let use class with flexibility for areas where short-term lets are not a local issue.
May 26th, 2023
