The lucrative short-term letting market is having an attack of the jitters after a BBC investigation revealed a postcode lottery in London.
It means that some Londoners hoping to rent out their homes during the Olympics could be breaking the law and risking fines.
Altogether, 27 London councils allow people to rent out their homes – but others do not.
For example, it has long been customary in leafy SW19 for home owners to move out during June and let their properties during Wimbledon fortnight. The council has no objection.
However, Westminster, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Islington, Camden, and Kensington & Chelsea, all ban short-term lets of 90 days or less, unless planning permission is obtained first – and this is rarely given. People who let short-term without getting planning consent face having enforcement notices slapped on them.
Westminster Council told BBC London it was important to preserve the rental market for longer-term residents.
It says numerous complaints had been received by residents complaining about noise and disruption in mansion blocks caused by short-term residents.
Rosemarie MacQueen, Westminster Council’s head of city planning development and design, said: “In Westminster, we have a population of 250,000 and that has to grow with targets from the mayor and ourselves.
“If we have short-term lets, we’ll never increase our long-term residential population.
“Secondly, residents who live in blocks of flats with short-term lets actually feel their quality of life has gone down.
“There’s a fear of crime, they don’t know the faces of the people who are coming in, and a lot of short-term residents don’t treat the place like home.
Lucy Morton, former ARLA president and head of lettings at W A Ellis, said: “Short lets has become a new buzzword in the lettings industry in London with the Olympics coming up next year.
“But news that local authorities intend to clamp down on these short lets by insisting that landlords apply for licences has sent a nervousness into this market.
“Short lets are common in the capital with the vast majority offered to visiting professionals, and there are many agents offering services to those looking to rent out their homes for short periods.
“With London preparing for next summer, there will be more than the usual demand for accommodation.”
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Comments
What the heck has it got to do with the councils when a private property owner lets his home for a short time providing he complies with health & safety
Communistic!.
I agree. How will the council enforce this? They could withhold a licence on an HMO presumably but what can they do to enforce action on a simply one bedroom apartment.
Not sure what the point would be in having a break clause within a six month fixed term agreement though. Not enforceable. Any termination would need to be by mutual agreement or the tenant could sit tight for the full term.
It is hard to see how London Councils can enforce this unless it was part of the original planning approval or presumably that planning is needed to use a previously permanent residential property as a holiday home.
Nice to see everyone getting behind the Olympicss and doing everything to support it and make visitors welcome even from other parts of the UK never mind abroad.
The solution anyway is to grant a 6 month let with a one sided only immediate or 7 day break clause for the tenant after 7 or 14 days. Legally it is a 6 month fixed term even if it can be terminated very soon into the term.