Planning Permission to Tackle Short-Term Lets in Tourist Hotspots
The government is cracking down on short-term holiday lets in popular tourist spots by proposing new planning permission rules. The aim? To give local communities more control and tackle the skyrocketing housing crisis caused by holiday lets taking over residential properties.
Tourism vs. Affordable Housing: Government Strikes a Balance
Announced today by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the new consultation aims to require planning permission before an existing home can be turned into a short-term let. This move hopes to support locals struggling to find affordable homes in areas overwhelmed by tourists.
The government is also mulling over letting homeowners rent out their properties for a limited number of nights annually without needing permission, adding some flexibility into the mix.
Officials Speak Out: Protecting Locals Without Killing Tourism
Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said:
“Tourism brings many benefits to our economy but in too many communities we have seen local people pushed out of cherished towns, cities and villages by huge numbers of short-term lets.
I’m determined that we ensure more people have access to local homes at affordable prices, and that we prioritise families desperate to rent or buy a home of their own close to where they work.
I have listened to MPs from tourist hotspots and am pleased to launch this consultation to introduce a requirement for planning permissions for short term lets.”
Meanwhile, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer added:
“This new world of ultra-flexible short term lets gives tourists more choice than ever, but it should not come at the expense of local people being able to own their own home and stay local.
The Government wants to help areas get the balance right. Today, we have an incomplete picture of the size and spread of our short term lets market. This consultation on a national registration scheme will give us the data we need to address communities’ concerns.”
What’s Next? A National Registration Scheme and More Planning Controls
- The Department for Culture Media and Sport has launched a separate consultation on a national registration scheme for short-term lets to track how many exist and where.
- This register will not affect hotels, hostels, or B&Bs—just private short-term lets.
- The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, currently in Parliament, will introduce this register.
- The proposed planning changes would create a new use class for short-term lets and allow local authorities to impose or waive planning controls.
- These changes will apply to England only and are expected to be introduced later this year if consultations go ahead.
The government’s plan responds directly to calls from residents priced out of their communities by holiday lets, aiming to keep towns and cities affordable for workers and families while still supporting Britain’s booming visitor economy.
