Letting agents managing short-lets are to face more red tape after it was announced yesterday that such properties are to face a compulsory national registration scheme.

Expected since a consultation by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in June, the outcome of which indicated Ministers were keen on such a scheme.

The UK Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA) reveals that it met with tourism minister Stuart Andrew on Wednesday after “months of work between the STAA and the Government” on the scheme.

The STAA has been advocating a national registration scheme to collect data on holiday rentals to support accurate reporting and policy decisions.

It says that in order to be successful the scheme must be simple for owners to register with, straightforward for authorities to administer and cheap to run.

STAA Chair, Merilee Karr (pictured) says: “Any new regulatory solution should recognise our industry as an important part of the wider UK tourism proposition, which means we need a solution that gets the balance right.”

Andy Fenner, CEO of the STAA, adds: “Holiday lets represent a tiny proportion of the total housing market yet provide vital flexible jobs and investment in our communities.

“The STAA wants the highest standards across our industry and clear, easy-to-use registration helps us achieve that.

“We have worked closely with the Government’s tourism officials to help develop this registration scheme and are very pleased that it has been announced.”

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