New rules requiring planning permission for short-term holiday lets would not impact hotels, hostels or B&Bs, the government has insisted.
Home owners planning to use properties to rent out to tourists in England would need to get planning permission under a consultation aimed at easing a housing squeeze in popular holiday areas.
The proposed planning changes would see a planning use class created for short-term lets not used as a sole or main home, alongside new permitted development rights, which will mean planning permission is not needed in areas where local authorities choose not to use these planning controls.
“Both of these measures are focussed on short-term lets, and therefore the planning changes and the register will not impact on hotels, hostels or B&Bs,” a government statement said.
The planning changes would be introduced through secondary legislation later in the year and would apply in England only.
The new proposals came as the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) revealed a separate consultation on a new registration scheme for short-term lets.
Housing and communities secretary Michael Gove 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 that 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 representations from MPs in tourist hot spots and am pleased to launch this consultation to introduce a requirement for planning permissions for short-term lets.”
The DCMS claimed a call for evidence earlier in the year had indicated “broad support” for a registration scheme.
Culture secretary Lucy Frazer said: “This new world of ultra-flexible short term lets gives tourists more choice than ever before, 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, and 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 assess the position and enable us to address the concerns communities face.”