Short Term Lets and Airbnb: Planning Permission

Thinking of offering your property for short term lets? Planning permission may be required.
What’s Changing?
From this summer the Government will introduce legislation to require owners of new short term lets in England to secure planning permission to use their properties for this purpose. You will need to be aware of this requirement if you are considering an Airbnb or other short term letting arrangement.
This will only apply to new lets. Properties already let on a short term basis will not be required to apply.
The proposed changes would see a new planning ‘use class’ created for short-term lets not used as a sole or main home. Existing dedicated short-term lets will automatically be reclassified into the new use class and will not require a planning application. This will give councils power to control short term lets.
A mandatory national register will also be set up to detail all short-term lets. The government stressed this would take a ‘light touch’ approach and would keep bureaucracy to a minimum. More is to be announced on this in due course.
Fees
The fee for this planning permission has not been confirmed. Currently a material change of use fee of between £120 to £258 applies.
Did you know…
Homeowners will be able to continue to let out their own main or sole home for up to 90 nights a year without needing the planning permission.
Get In Touch
For more information and advice, please contact your local Whitings LLP office.
Disclaimer - All information in this post was correct at time of writing.