Local residents will be protected from being pushed out of their
communities by excessive short-term lets thanks to changes in
planning rules announced today.
Under the reforms, councils will be given greater power to
control short-term lets by making them subject to the planning
process. This will support local people in areas where high
numbers of short-term lets are preventing them from finding
housing they can afford to buy or to rent.
These changes are part of a long-term plan to prevent a
“hollowing out” of communities, address anti-social behaviour and
ensure local people can continue to live in the place they call
home.
Meanwhile, a new mandatory national register will give local
authorities the information they need about short-term lets in
their area. This will help councils understand the extent of
short-term lets in their area, the effects on their communities,
and underpin compliance with key health and safety regulations.
Short-term lets are now a significant part of the UK’s visitor
economy, and can provide increased choice and flexibility for
tourists and business travellers. To recognise this, homeowners
will still be able to let out their own main or sole home for up
to 90 nights throughout a year without planning permission and
Government is considering how to apply the register so it does
not apply disproportionate regulation for example on property
owners that let out their home infrequently.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up Housing and
Communities, said:
“These changes will ensure people have more control over housing
in their cherished communities.
“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.”
Tourism Minister said:
"Short-term lets provide flexibility for homeowners and give
tourists more accommodation options than ever before, but this
should not prevent local people from being able to buy or rent
homes in their area.
“The Government is committed to getting the balance right to
ensure both local people and our visitor economy can thrive.”
Amanda Cupples, General Manager for Northern Europe,
Airbnb said:
"The introduction of a short-term lets register is good news for
everyone. 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.
“We have long led calls for the introduction of a Host register
and we look forward to working together to make it a success.”
The proposed planning changes would see a new planning ‘use
class’ created for short-term lets not used as a sole or main
home. Existing dedicated short-term lets will automatically be
reclassified into the new use class and will not require a
planning application.
The changes are part of the Government’s long-term plan for
housing, unlocking more of the homes this country needs and
meeting the target to deliver one million homes this Parliament,
backed by £10 billion investment.
The Government also intends to introduce associated permitted
development rights – one allowing for a property to be changed
from a short-term let to a standard residential dwelling, and a
second that would allow a property to be changed to a short-term
let. Local authorities would be able to remove these permissions
and require full planning permission if they deem it necessary.
Both of these measures are focussed on short-term lets, and
therefore the planning changes and the register will not affect
hotels, hostels or B&Bs.
Further details of these measures will be set out in the
Government’s response to the consultations, including the
timeline for implementation of the register, the use class and
the individual permitted development rights - with the changes
being introduced from this summer.
ENDS
Further comment:
Leader of Cornwall Council Cllr Linda
Taylor said:
“Through our devolution negotiations with Government we’ve been
asking for the powers to help stem the escalating number of
short-terms lets in many of Cornwall’s beautiful towns and
villages.
“I was delighted that the Secretary of State took the time to
visit Cornwall last Thursday to hear first-hand from residents
about the impact those increased numbers of holiday lets are
having on local communities, and therefore I very much welcome
today’s announcement.
“Alongside the introduction of the 100% premium on second homes
from April 2025, I’m pleased the Government is providing the
fiscal, planning and regulatory powers to help rebalance
Cornwall’s housing market and allow us to provide even more
decent and secure homes for local people and help all our
communities to thrive.”
