Nickie has campaigned for many years to tackle the blight of short-term lets within central London. She welcomes the Government’s plan to do just that with the introduction of a tourist accommodation registration scheme in England.
Short-term, holiday style, lets allow homeowners to rent a property or room over one or two days. Currently, rules allow homeowners to let their property for up to 90-nights. They can be a great way for tourists to visit our neighbourhoods, but Nickie repeatedly hears from local people about the misery out-of-control rogue short-let landlords cause.
Local people have told Nickie how they have had to face some visitors causing anti-social behaviour, excessive noise, and rubbish dumping, particularly where the property is rented out for more than 90-nights a year. Too many short-lets also directly impacts the supply of long-term rental properties and hikes up rents for families and young professionals hoping to settle in our neighbourhoods.
That’s why, working with local people across the Two Cities, Nickie has championed a short-term lets registration scheme, backed by industry leaders, Airbnb. The scheme will empower local authorities to crack down on issues as soon as they arise.
Nickie has petitioned Parliament, worked with Westminster City Council, lobbied Ministers, led debates in Parliament, secured a national Government consultation, and received the Prime Minister’s commitment at PMQs on this very issue.
In her debate in the House of Commons Chamber in June 2022, Nickie laid bare the exponential rise in short-term lets in London. Between 2015 and 2020, the number of AirBnB listings in London grew by 378%. Further, across six of the largest online letting platforms, by 2019 there were over 73,000 listings in London of short-term lets. Equivalent to one in every 50 homes in the capital. These are not new homes, but homes that would have previously been rented out on long-term leases for professionals and families to call home.
The Government’s support for Nickie’s campaign means local authorities can now implement a tourist accommodation registration scheme in their area, tailored to their local requirements. This will not be a one-size-fits-all approach and will allow authorities to take action as soon as problems arise.
Under the Government's announcement on 19 February 2024, planning permission will be required for new short-term lets, a mandatory national register will be implemented, providing valuable information and helping ensure accommodation is safe, and homeowners can continue to let out their own main or sole home for up to 90 nights a year.
Nickie thanks everyone who signed her petition, shared their views and experiences, and had their say in the national Government consultation. This victory would not have been possible without your support. Nickie looks forward to working with Ministers ahead of the next public consultation and its subsequent implementation.
