Many people in York and beyond have invested in property as short-term holiday lets to take advantage of the UK’s booming tourist trade.
However, with a Government review of short-term lets now underway and several local authorities taking action to manage new holiday lets, should holiday property owners be concerned?
The Highland Council recently became one of the first local authorities to consult on a licensing scheme for Airbnb-style short lets.
It has put forward the proposal that will apply to a wide range of accommodations, including self-catered properties, B&B’s, guest houses, glamping pods and yurts.
If approved this new licensing scheme will apply from 1 October 2022, with the aim of ensuring lets are safe and in keeping with existing communities.
This will address issues brought up by other local residents about the impact of short lets on towns and villages, as well as offering better oversight to local authorities so that they can better resolve disputes.
This latest move comes after residents of Whitby voted in favour of restricting new home ownership to local residents.
While the vote was not legally binding, it did indicate that 2,111 people were in favour of restricting second home ownership, including holiday homes, against 157 people who supported second homes.
A Government review of short-term tourist accommodation has also been launched recently, while Labour has declared its plans for a licensing system for holiday lets that would aim to preserve the “spirit” of communities.
Yorkshire could be hit hard by a ban on second homes and holiday lets, with recent research from Quotezone showing that the short lets trend is most prolific in Yorkshire, which has become the market leader for holiday home lets.
If you plan on purchasing a second home or are concerned about these proposals, please speak to our residential property team.
