Reactions As The UK Government Announces A New Plan For Airbnb

Reactions As The UK Government Announces A New Plan For Airbnb

A new trade body in the UK, The Short Term Accommodation Association, has expressed deep disappointment over a government plan for Airbnb and other short-term-lets-register-in-england'>short let companies seeking planning consent. The Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities published that a formal consultation will be initiated soon to discuss the proposal of planning consent for an existing home to be used as a short-term-lets-register-in-england'>short let. Another option the government will consider is giving owners the flexibility to let their homes for up to a specified number of nights in a calendar year without the need for planning permission.

These changes will be introduced through secondary legislation and apply to England only if the consultation succeeds. They will not impact hotels, hostels, or B&Bs. Short Term Accommodation Association Chief Executive Andy Fenner says that by introducing a planning permission requirement, the government has completely ignored the benefits accrued to the UK economy through short-term rentals. He is concerned that these proposed changes will impact many small businesses.

The short-term rental business is a crucial contributor to the UK economy and is one reason for the country's ability to attract domestic and international tourists. It also helps push the local economy, but few understand this vital factor. The need of the hour is a greater focus on building new homes to resolve the housing shortage issue quickly. The government has stated that it wants to ensure the country enjoys the benefits of diverse and sustainable accommodation and supports the visitor economy. This move is also aimed at protecting local communities and ensuring the availability of affordable housing to rent or buy.

The proposed planning changes will result in forming a planning use class for short-term lets only, which are not used as a sole or main home, alongside new permitted development rights. It means permission is not needed in areas where local authorities choose not to use these planning controls. According to UK Housing Secretary Michael Gove, In too many communities, we have seen local people pushed out of cherished towns, cities, and villages by vast numbers of short-term lets.

The government wants to ensure that more people have access to local homes at affordable prices. They will support families looking to rent or buy a home near where they work. The move is based on representations from MPs in tourist hot spots. The consultation is being launched to introduce a requirement for planning permissions for short-term lets. Meanwhile, the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport has launched a separate consultation on a new registration scheme for short-term-lets-register-in-england'>short lets. The aim is to identify the number of short-term lets and their locations so that the impact of short-term lets on communities can be understood and analyzed.

Not everyone opposes the consultation. It has attracted broad support across the short-term-lets-register-in-england'>short lets sector. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer says, This new world of ultra-flexible short-term lets gives tourists more choice than ever before, but it should not come at the expense of local people being able to own their own home and stay local. The government wants to help areas get the balance right, and today we have an incomplete picture of the size and spread of our short-term lets market. This consultation on a national registration scheme will give us the data we need to assess the position and enable us to address the concerns communities face.

The government officials say they have listened to calls from local people in tourist hotspots that they are priced out of homes to rent or to buy. They need more affordable housing so they can continue to work and live in the place they call home. The register of short-term lets is being introduced through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.

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