Ministers have launched a consultation on plans that would see homeowners needing to get planning permission before converting properties into short-term holiday lets in tourist hotspots like Keswick.
It is part of Government plans aimed at easing housing problems with Housing Secretary Michael Gove stating that too many people were being “pushed out of cherished towns, cities and villages”.
Keswick Town Council has repeatedly heard stories about how young families and elderly residents have had to endure rowdiness, abuse, disturbances, street brawls and garden parties lasting for days because many holiday lets are unmanaged. It has said that the uncontrolled expansion of holiday lets into Keswick’s residential areas is becoming a major problem.
Announcing the consultation, Mr Gove said tourism brought economic benefits but added: “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.”
The plans could help out residents struggling to find suitable housing in popular holiday destinations such as the Lake District.
The Government says the measures are focused on short-term lets and would not affect hotels, hostels or B&Bs.
The culture department has also launched a consultation on plans to introduce a registration scheme for short-term lets. Under the consultation, the Government is expected to set a rental period of between 30 and 90 days before a homeowner would need to apply for planning permission to change the property’s primary use.
Homeowners would then have to seek permission from the local council to reclassify their property as a short-term let.
“It seems an excellent idea to me,” said Bill Bewley, chair of Keswick’s Community Housing Trust. “But I still remain convinced that the best way forward is some sort of licensing arrangement.
“If you want to change a house from residential to a business or holiday let you would need to apply for a licence and the local authority would control those licences and a fee would cover the cost of administration.
“But anything that prevents the loss of residential homes into non residential homes would be welcomed by me.”
