New legislation proposed by Government
In February 2024, the housing secretary Michael Gove proposed legislation requiring planning permission for short-term lets to prevent a "hollowing out" of communities. The law would establish a new "use" category, necessitating permission for short-term holiday home rentals, excluding those renting out their main homes for 90 days or less annually.
National registry for short-term rentals
A national register would be created to provide councils with information on short-term lets, allowing communities to balance visitor economy protection with locals' housing needs. The government also plans permitted development rights related to short-term lets, with details outlined in the summer. Local authorities would be able to remove these permissions and require full planning permission if they deem it necessary.
Further details of the scheme will be set out in coming months
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.
Critics warn new legislation will negatively impact Britain’s tourism economy
Critics of the legislation say that a national registration scheme and requiring permission to use one’s own property for holiday lets will not fix anything, but it will add to Britain’s red tape nightmare and could end up doing more damage to local communities by hurting their tourism economy.
In February 2024, the housing secretary Michael Gove proposed legislation requiring planning permission for short-term lets to prevent a "hollowing out" of communities. The law would establish a new "use" category, necessitating permission for short-term holiday home rentals, excluding those renting out their main homes for 90 days or less annually.
National registry for short-term rentals
A national register would be created to provide councils with information on short-term lets, allowing communities to balance visitor economy protection with locals' housing needs. The government also plans permitted development rights related to short-term lets, with details outlined in the summer. Local authorities would be able to remove these permissions and require full planning permission if they deem it necessary.
Further details of the scheme will be set out in coming months
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.
Critics warn new legislation will negatively impact Britain’s tourism economy
Critics of the legislation say that a national registration scheme and requiring permission to use one’s own property for holiday lets will not fix anything, but it will add to Britain’s red tape nightmare and could end up doing more damage to local communities by hurting their tourism economy.
