New short-lets regulation ‘good news’ for rural areas – claim
The rise of platforms like Airbnb have led to hundreds of homes previously available to rent to local people being switched to short-stay holiday rentals, says CPRE.
The spokesperson for rural lobbying group the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has welcomed the Government’s announcement that holiday lets advertised on platforms such as Airbn, Booking.com and Vrbo are to much more tightly regulated.
In unequivocal comments, Paul Miner says short-lets are strangling some rural and coastal towns and villages, saying action is long overdue.
PLANNING APPROVAL
The Neg reported yesterday how holiday lets will soon need planning approval in areas where councils decide local people are unable to afford housing. The Government also unveiled a national register where all short-lets will have to be recorded including their basic health and safety compliance information, somethign agents who are involved in short-lets will have to get involved in.
Under the new planning rules, the Government says permission will be required for future short-term lets alongside the new mandatory national register.
Miner, who is CPRE’s Head of Campaigns and Policy, says: “These new planning rules are good news for rural communities.
“Everyone deserves a home they can afford to live in. But the recent surge in short-term lets has prevented people in the countryside from finding housing they can afford to buy or rent and in some cases local workers have been turfed out of their rented accommodation.”
POWER TO REGULATE
He adds: “We have long led calls on the government to introduce a second home and short-term lets register, with local authorities having the power to regulate the provision of short-term lets and to levy extra council tax on second homes.
“The explosion in the number of homes marketed for Airbnb-style short-term lets is strangling rural communities. The worsening housing crisis is felt most acutely in rural areas which is why we’ve been calling for rapid action from the government.
“We want everyone in the countryside to have a fair chance in life, whatever their circumstances. To make this a reality, we need to ensure there are enough low-cost homes to rent or buy in our villages and market towns.”
