Using a property as a holiday let has become increasingly challenging over the years. With a recent announcement by Housing Secretary Michael Gove, it appears that isn’t going to change any time soon. Moving forward, UK homeowners who want to rent their properties as holiday lets will soon need to seek planning permission. Find out more about this decision and how it could affect homeowners below.
This article does not constitute advice. Professional advice should be taken prior to acting on any part of it. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it.
Reasoning behind decision
So, why has this decision been made? The government hopes to alleviate some housing pressure that is seen in popular tourist areas. Local councils would be able to prevent future holiday lets if housing in the area isn’t sufficient.
Alongside this move, the government also plans to launch a consultation on establishing a compulsory registration scheme for holiday lets. This would allow local councils visibility on the state of the housing market so they could easily see how many temporary lets there are.
Keeping local homes affordable
In areas where new properties are being acquired for profit-making ventures through private holiday rentals on sites like Airbnb, there are concerns about the long-term affordability of homes in their areas.
When an area is overrun with holiday lets, locals are often displaced from their own communities because they can no longer afford to live there. Mr Gove emphasised how important it is that residents who lived in these areas could still afford housing, especially families hoping to rent or purchase homes in the near future.
Planning permission
This move is not meant to prevent homeowners from renting out individual rooms or their entire property for short-term lets, it’s just placing a few limitations on the practice. If you want to provide a rental for between 30 and 90 days, you don’t need planning permission. Anything longer than that you will be expected to apply for planning permission for a use change.
It’s important to note that these changes will not affect hotels, hostels, or B&Bs. Only holiday let properties will be impacted.
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