Labour looks to give councils powers over short-term lets

Labour looks to give councils powers over short-term lets

0:02 AM, 29th August 2024, About 4 months ago 5

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Labour plans to fast-track a crackdown on short-term lets by granting councils new powers, the Telegraph reports.

The newspaper says Labour will empower local councils in England to designate areas where holiday lets will need planning approval.

Also, a compulsory national register for short-term lets is on the horizon.

A Ministry insider informed the Telegraph that the registration scheme will be rolled out ‘as quickly as possible’.

In Wales, a similar register, known as an “Article 4 Direction,” already exists and covers both second homes and holiday lets.

Northern Ireland has had a registration system in place for some time.

Committed to short-term let regulations

Former Conservative housing secretary Michael Gove committed to short-term let regulations as part of proposed planning reforms.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 laid the groundwork for a national registration scheme.

Following a consultation in February, the previous government under Rishi Sunak announced that planning permission would be required for letting homes starting this summer.

However, experts have cautioned that a new registration scheme could lead to stricter controls on short-term lets, a move they argue has failed in Edinburgh.

The Short-Term Accommodation Association

The chief executive of the Short-Term Accommodation Association (STAA), Andy Fenner, expressed his concerns about a locally managed scheme becoming chaotic.

He told the Telegraph: “We are very concerned that the registration scheme is not going to be national.

“We’re concerned that it is going to be introduced either by county, region or council.”

Mr Fenner also expressed his fears that a registration scheme will be a ‘poorly done licensing scheme’ – which is something the sector doesn’t want.

Linked to an increase in black market listings

In Scotland, short-term let regulations introduced last October have been linked to an increase in black market listings, with industry groups warning it could damage long-term tourism.

The scheme requires anyone offering bookings and guest accommodations, including self-catered lodgings and B&Bs, to obtain a licence, posing an extra hurdle for those renting out spare rooms.

Since the scheme’s inception, only 290 full secondary letting licences have been issued, according to council data.

Conservative MSP Miles Briggs described Scotland’s licensing scheme as ‘disastrous’ in Holyrood in May.

A Ministry of Housing spokesperson told the Telegraph: “We are introducing a short term lets registration scheme to help give councils greater oversight and control of housing in their areas.”


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Cider Drinker

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9:36 AM, 29th August 2024, About 4 months ago

None of this would be required if net migration was under control.

If every holiday let in England and Wales (around 70,000 according to the 2021 census) was immediately made available for rent or to buy, they’d be filled within just a month or two through net migration. Who would the government then blame for 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 failure to tackle the population crisis?

Unambitious locals earning minimum wage in popular seaside towns will not be able to buy in thise town. Reducing the number of visitors may see them lose their jobs in tourism and maybe then they will try harder to gain better employment.

Paul Essex

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9:41 AM, 29th August 2024, About 4 months ago

Just what we need more 'postcode' legislation.

NewYorkie

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11:50 AM, 29th August 2024, About 4 months ago

This government is behaving like greedy kids who've been handed the sweetie jar, and won't stop stuffing their faces until they've made themselves sick.

Lisa008

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12:38 PM, 31st August 2024, About 4 months ago

In a market where “options” are valued… some people are looking for a short let. You could be working in an area Monday-Friday. Relocating for work, visiting family - 2 weeks … or just in the area for a term … in services accommodation- you have a kitchen so it’s cheaper than staying in a hotel. You can make your own breakfast, lunch and dinner. The government want to point the finger at all the reasons why there’s a housing shortage… yet never is it pointed at themselves. There is still a huge shortage of housing, let alone “affordable” housing. Go and build some more houses and stop tinkering at the edge of viable businesses that are providing a service and jobs in the local economy. Some people are selling up as they’re terrified of having an un paying tenant that they can’t kick out because their situation will be worse than the landlords so now you have to provide housing for free. This is why there’s been an uptick in short lets. People are just trying to retain more control over their asset. And you can’t blame them because what seems to be coming down the pipeline is making a lot of people exit this sector. But I think that’s just part of the bigger plan. 2030… you will own nothing, and be happy. They WANT the little landlord gone. They want black rock and Co to own everything.

Oliver Rees

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11:29 AM, 3rd September 2024, About 4 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Lisa008 at 31/08/2024 - 12:38
Exactly, I am growing more and more convinced that the government's only goal is to turn the entire society into perpetual slaves. At least in the past we had a means of escaping the rat race, but they're trying to one by one plug all of these escape 'routes'. I believe they depend on failure, increased regulation and roadblocks, to gradually reduce the optimistic spirit of society like a relentless battle of attrition, building levels of depression and a negative mindset in their enemy "the entrepreneur", until they are fully dismantled and removed from the population altogether.

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