Brighton and Hove’s Labour council has set up an investigation to see how the proliferation of Airbnbs in the city has impacted the wider private rental market.

A report to councillors suggests that there are 4,000 to 5,000 short-lets in Brighton and Hove.

Labour councillor Amanda Evans wants the council to invite the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to comment on potential legislation and timescales for bringing Airbnbs and other short lets under the control of local planning authorities. 

Local media report Evans telling a council meeting: “There are masses of houses where they’ve got a council tax payer listed. There’s someone on the electoral roll. Presumably, they’re paying for one person’s council tax. They’re not registered as Airbnbs. They’re not registered as holiday lets. Yet they have one of those push-button key boxes on the door.

“Half the houses in those streets off the seafront are being run as completely unlicensed unregulated B and Bs. They’re not paying taxes. They’re not doing their fire regs. They’re not paying business rates. They’re getting away with giving the council ordinary council tax and making a fortune.

“You knock on the door on a Saturday and a bunch of hens or stags open the door to you and you ask to speak to Mr Smith and they go: ‘Nah, nobody lives here. It’s a full-time Airbnb.’ A voluntary register would help with that.”

The investigation will look at alleged links between growing numbers of short lets and issues including anti-social behaviour, parking and the impact on housing stock for the resident community.