Brighton and Hove Crack Down on Holiday Lets
Brighton and Hove councillors have debated implementing planning controls and closing tax loopholes to address the growing impact of holiday lets in the city.
Green councillor Ollie Sykes highlighted the strain short-term lets are placing on housing availability.
“There is virtually nowhere left to rent in Brighton and Hove. It’s absolutely crazy,” Sykes told Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC). “While I support compliant, regulated short-term lets, they must be subject to planning controls due to their effect on housing supply.”
The discussion was part of BHCC’s preparations to respond to the government’s proposed regulations on short-term holiday lets. Councillors expressed their intention to lobby Westminster for legislative changes to curb the unchecked expansion of such properties.
Although the exact number of short-term lets in Brighton and Hove remains uncertain, estimates from the Local Democracy Reporting Service suggest it falls between 2,000 and 6,000 properties.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell, who is advocating for a private members’ bill on short-term lets, has estimated that the sector is responsible for approximately £6 billion in undeclared tax revenue.
Councillors unanimously agreed to further examine the issue of short-term holiday lets in July 2024, signalling a commitment to addressing the challenges posed by the sector.
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