Agents back compulsory national registration for short lets

Propertymark has thrown its weight behind the idea of a compulsory national register of landlords and hosts operating Airbnb and other short lets.

The trade body says in a new statement: ”Propertymark has campaigned for a long-time to introduce standards for the short-term lettings industry and annotate the impact they have on the availability and affordability of local rental housing and increased house prices driven by additional demand from owners of short-term lets.”

The announcement has come following the unveiling of two government consultations on the short lets sector.

A consultation document published last week by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities proposes the requirement of planning consent for an existing home to start to be used as a short let.

It will also consider another option - whether to give owners flexibility to let their home for up to a specified number of nights in a calendar year without the need for planning permission.

Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the planning changes would be introduced through secondary legislation later in the year and would apply in England only.

Also last week, the Department for Culture Media and Sport launched a separate consultation on a new registration scheme for short lets.

The scheme aims to “build a picture of how many short-term lets there are and where they are located, to help understand the impact of short-term lets on communities.”

There has been broad support for a registration scheme across the short lets sector and Propertymark pledges in its latest statement to continue lobbying government on the issue.

It adds: “We welcome any thoughts and comments from members. Contact the Policy Team to provide input.”