The government is planning a crackdown on short-term holiday lets, which could mean that homes converted into short-term holiday lets require planning permission in future.
Conversion crackdown
The motivation for the crackdown is to stop residents from being pushed out of their towns, the government says. Specifically, the government aims to target the practice of ‘industrialising’ online rental platforms, whereby entire apartment blocks are bought by investors to let as short-term rentals to tourists. The rules could introduce a new category for holiday lets and make them subject to local planning controls, which, the government hopes, will deter such activities.
“Affordable prices”
Housing Secretary Michael Gove commented, “Tourism brings many benefits to our economy but in too many communities we have seen local people pushed out of cherished towns, cities and villages by huge numbers of short-term lets. I’m determined that we ensure that more people have access to local homes at affordable prices, and that we prioritise families desperate to rent or buy a home of their own close to where they work.” The government has stated that consultations on this plan and other proposals for short-term holiday lets will take place.
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