Communities could be given greater control over short-term lets in tourist hot spots under new government plans to require planning permission for an existing home to start to be used as a short-term let.
A consultation published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will propose introducing planning permission for an existing home to start to be used as a short-term let. The rule has been made to support local people in areas where high numbers of holiday lets are preventing them from finding affordable housing.
It will also consider whether to give owners flexibility to let out their home for up to a specified number of nights in a calendar year without the need for planning permission.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up Housing and Communities, Michael Gove said:
“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 listened to calls from local people in tourist hotspots that they are priced out of homes to rent or to buy and need housing that is more affordable so they can continue to work and live in the place they call home.
The proposed planning changes would see a planning use class created for short-term lets not used as a sole or main home, alongside new permitted development rights, which will mean planning permission is not needed in areas where local authorities choose not to use these planning controls.
Both of these measures are focussed on short-term lets, and therefore the planning changes and the register will not impact on hotels, hostels or B&Bs.
The register of short-term lets is being introduced through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.
