Turning homes into short-term holiday lets could soon require planning permission if new government plans come into force. 

Conversion crackdown 

The motivation behind plans is to save residents from being pushed out of their towns, the government says. Specifically, the government aims to target the practice of ‘industrialising’ online rental platforms, whereby entire apartment blocks are bought by investors to let as short-term rentals to tourists. 

Regulation could introduce a new category for holiday lets and make them subject to local planning controls, which, the government hopes, will deter such activities. 

“Affordable prices” 

Housing Secretary Michael Gove commented, “Tourism brings many benefits to our economy but in too many communities we have seen local people pushed out of cherished towns, cities and villages by huge numbers of short-term lets. 

“I’m determined that we ensure that more people have access to local homes at affordable prices, and that we prioritise families desperate to rent or buy a home of their own close to where they work.” 

Consultations will take place on the change, the government says, as well as on another proposal for a registration scheme for short-term holiday lets. 

As a mortgage is secured against your home or property, it could be repossessed if you do not keep up mortgage repayments.