Councils to use Airbnb data to catch illegal social housing sublets
3 months ago | 2 comments
Government confirms plans to regulate short-term lets
9:11 AM, 9th September 2026, 3 weeks ago
9
Categories:
The government has announced plans for a mandatory register for short-term lets, which could come into force by March 2027.
Speaking in Parliament, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy confirmed that the government is committed to introducing regulation for short-term holiday lets.
Under the proposed scheme, hosts will be required to register their property’s address and will be issued a unique reference number. This number must then be displayed on every platform where the property is advertised.
Hosts will also need to confirm that they are complying with existing legal requirements for short-term lets, including fire safety measures and gas and electrical safety certification.
Putting power back into people’s hands
Ms Nandy told MPs: “We are bringing forward measures to introduce a register of short-term lets.
“We believe that local leaders need to be able to understand what is happening in their local areas and to shape that in order to have the benefits of tourism.
“This regulation is about putting power back into people’s hands so that they can shape the right balance between the benefits that tourism brings and the needs of people locally for decent housing.
She confirmed to Parliament the register will be “up and running” by March next year.
Strike a balance
Propertymark has called for the government to strike a balance with short-term lets.
The industry body writes on its website: “We have been outspoken over how the proliferation of short-term lets risks reducing the size of the private rented sector, and we have consistently called for a fairer balance between short-term and residential lettings.
“Short-term lest can support tourism and give owners flexibility, but local authorities need effective tools to respond where high numbers reduce the availability of homes for local people.
“Our research has found that increasing the supply of private and social housing is the main solution to pressures linked to short-term lets. However, our members also support proportionate regulation that creates greater parity with the private rented sector, including effective local controls and appropriate standards”.
As previously reported by Property118, MPs have called for the government to go further to clamp down on short-term lets by changing data-management rules.
In London, short-term lets are limited to 90 nights per year without planning permission. However, MPs argue that enforcing this is effectively impossible under current systems due to the difficulty of obtaining accurate data.
Tags:
Compulsory Registration Scheme Short-Term Lets, impact of short-term lets on economy, Lisa Nandy, short term lets
9 comments on this article
Learn from your peers’ experience
A different perspective could help you spot an issue, avoid a mistake or find a better way forward. Read the comments and add your own views if you wish.
Previous Article
Renters' Rights Act fuels rent growthNext Article
Propertymark calls for faster leasehold reformRelated Articles
Councils could get more powers over short-term lets and second homes
3 months ago | 1 comments
The UK’s short-let guest nights exceed 100 million
3 months ago
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1601 - Articles: 1
9:53 AM, 9th September 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Many actors and theatre crew rely on short term cheap, not AirB&B, accommodation to be able to do their jobs and in turn also short term rent out their main residence when on tour to help pay their mortgage or rent.
It’s not something that has any bearing on those looking to rent a main residence but will have a decimating effect on performers and crews nee£img to be able to afford to work away from “home”.
Member Since July 2016 - Comments: 163
10:30 AM, 9th September 2026, About 3 weeks ago
As usual, the government believes that maximising available homes for local people is best achieved by more regulation – in this case of short lettings. The real answer is to reduce regulation and taxation on the PRS, for it is that which has caused so many property owners to go down the short let route. But of course, politicians much prefer to regulate. Makes them feel they’re doing something useful, I suppose.
Member Since October 2019 - Comments: 440
10:36 AM, 9th September 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Look on the bright side! The government will be out of a job soon as there’ll be nothing else left to wreck!
Member Since October 2017 - Comments: 120
11:43 AM, 9th September 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 09/09/2026 – 09:53
I agree. It is also not ‘safe’ now to work away whilst leaving your lodger to stay as they may get the rights of a tenant.
Member Since June 2018 - Comments: 21
2:25 PM, 9th September 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Over regulating this sector isn’t just going to effect holiday lets, it’s where contract workers live too.
Where will they go?
We have marine students, construction workers, nurses and technicians who only need temporary accommodation for a few days or weeks.
In my area, students have been hit hard, facing a lack of accommodation as landlords have moved onto safer tenancies, with less risks attached to falling foul of regulations.
Short term let’s already have to be compliant.
Don’t these politicians see beyond the end of their noses?
Member Since February 2024 - Comments: 101
9:49 AM, 10th September 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Wolfey at 09/09/2026 – 14:25
No they don’t and their noses are very short indeed.
Member Since April 2020 - Comments: 129
10:14 AM, 10th September 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Sally Robinson at 10/09/2026 – 09:49
Another reason for carrying out consultation with the sector before making up all these rules and regulations. The main purpose as I see it is to make it simple for government to control everything and make it easy to look at anything and legislate, tax and prosecute as they see fit without regard for anything else.
Member Since October 2022 - Comments: 267
5:52 PM, 10th September 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by LaLo at 09/09/2026 – 10:36
I think the previous government already did a pretty good job of that! Maybe we should see if bully boy billionaire NF is even better at wrecking the country by turning it into an oligarchy of his hedge fund chums?
Member Since October 2022 - Comments: 267
5:57 PM, 10th September 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by DP at 10:14
At least they spared us the charade of consultation with the RRA. So we know their real agenda is to destroy the PRS by imposing rules that are only suitable for larger professional landlords running their businesses as registered companies.