New controls on holiday lets are set to be put in place in popular seaside destinations like Cornwall in an attempt to stop pricing locals out.
The new rules will mean those wanting to turn their homes into short term holiday lets will have to ask permission from the council.
But the rules do not apply for those wanting to rent out their main home for less than 90 nights a year, meaning some home owners will be able to get away with renting out their house during peak summer months.
Hotels, hostels and B&Bs are also unaffected by the changes.
The Government also plans to introduce a new mandatory national registration scheme for holiday lets, to “provide local authorities with information about which premises are being let out in their area”. It has been met with praise from locals in Cornwall, where house prices have shot up over the last few years as second home owners snap up holiday homes.
Kevin Brown wrote: “Excellent news. For those with second homes they should pay double the rateable value of the property. Those that can afford a second home will happily pay their way. People who respect the county and its issues will pay their way.”
Another welcomed the initiative, calling it “good news”. But others seem to think they have found a loophole in the scheme.
Tom Coad said: “So this looks like planning permission is required for all letting including local housing. So the loophole is, you say you’re going to rent out your home to locals, you are then granted the planning permission.
“Once you have that, you can then rent it on Airbnb. This will only backfire if someone grasses you up and the council then remove your planning permission. But that will take a heck of a longtime if all renters do it.”
Others felt more needed to be done to sort out the “housing crisis” locals are facing in Cornwall. Areas like St Ives and Falmouth have been particularly affected by holiday lets, with new ones popping up every year.
The changes were welcomed by Airbnb, which advertises numerous short-term lets. Amanda Cupples, the company’s general manager for Northern Europe, said: “Families who host on Airbnb will benefit from clear rules that support their activity, and local authorities will get access to the information they need to assess and manage housing impacts and keep communities healthy, where necessary.”
Campaign group Generation Rent said it was pleased a registration scheme would finally be introduced but there was “significant doubt” over whether changes to the planning system would be enforceable.
Chief executive Ben Twomey said: “Proposals to allow existing short term lets to automatically gain permission to continue risks shutting the stable door once the horse has bolted.”
Housing Secretary Michael Gove said: “Short-term lets can play an important role in the UK’s flourishing tourism economy, providing great, easily-accessible accommodation in some of the most beautiful parts of our country.
“But in some areas, too many local families and young people feel they are being shut out of the housing market and denied the opportunity to rent or buy in their own community.”
