Soho’s Population Declines as Short-Term Lets Transform London’s West End

Soho’s residential community is vanishing at an alarming rate as short-term holiday lets replace permanent homes, turning entire apartment blocks into online hotels.New estimates suggest that fewer than 2,000 people now live in London’s vibrant West End, a dramatic drop from previous decades. At a parliamentary meeting on Thursday, hosted by Cities of Westminster and London MP Rachel Blake, Soho residents expressed concerns over rising crime, noise complaints, and the loss of long-term housing.

Residents Say Soho Is Being ‘Hollowed Out’
Tim Lord, from the Soho Society, warned that short-term lets are rapidly eroding the area’s sense of community.

MPs Demand Action on Illegal Short-Term Lets

“We are losing our community. After World War II, Soho had 30,000 residents. By 2000, it was around 6,000. Now, it’s fewer than 2,000. If this continues, we risk losing essential services like schools and community programs. With fewer permanent residents, who will raise concerns about rubbish collection, crime, and noise?
In the long run, even tourists may no longer want to visit an area overwhelmed by excessive crime and no local character.”

On Friday, Rachel Blake and other Labour MPs wrote to Airbnb, urging the company to crack down on illegal subletting and introduce stronger host verification processes.

MPs are calling for mandatory vetting of listings to ensure that hosts:
✅ Have legal permission to rent out their properties
✅ Are not violating lease agreements or local regulations
✅ Do not contribute to the displacement of long-term residents

They also demand that platforms establish a dedicated complaints hotline, allowing residents to report unauthorised short-term lets.

Ms Blake criticised Airbnb and similar platforms for failing to regulate the industry effectively.

“For too long, platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com have turned a blind eye to homes being illegally sublet.
Residents have been forced to endure the consequences—noise disturbances, crime, and unaccountable hosts.
These platforms must introduce basic verification checks and create a complaints hotline to prevent misuse.”

Short-Term Lets and Legal Loopholes
Under London law, landlords can only rent out properties to tourists for 90 days per year.
However, many exploit loopholes by listing the same property across multiple rental websites, bypassing the 90-day rule and avoiding detection.

Westminster City Council, which has the highest number of short-term lets in the UK, estimates that there are 13,000 such properties in the borough. Currently, it is investigating over 2,600 suspected violations of the 90-night limit.

The Government is planning to introduce a mandatory registration scheme for short-term lets, allowing councils to monitor and regulate these rentals more effectively.

Airbnb Responds to Criticism
In response, an Airbnb spokesperson defended the company’s policies:

“Listings on Airbnb that exceed 90 nights per year account for just 0.17% of London’s housing stock.
We work closely with local governments to enforce restrictions, ensuring short-term lets remain sustainable for communities.
Our 24/7 Neighbourhood Support Line allows anyone to report concerns, and we take action where appropriate.”

Westminster Council Calls for Action on Empty Homes
In addition to tackling short-term lets, Westminster City Council is calling for urgent Government action to address long-term empty properties.

Research shows that 11,000 homes in Westminster are classified as unoccupied, particularly in the West End and Knightsbridge, where many properties serve as investment assets rather than homes.

Council leader Adam Hug is urging the Government to strengthen Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs), which allow councils to reclaim and repurpose vacant private properties.

“Investment properties in Westminster are nothing new, but we are past crisis point. This council has just allocated £140 million to temporary housing, yet we have homes sitting empty for decades. Our officers found two properties owned by an investor in Qatar that have been vacant for 20 years. It’s unjustifiable that taxpayers are funding temporary accommodation while homes stand empty.”

The Future of Soho’s Community
Without urgent action, Soho’s residential population may continue to decline, leading to higher crime, fewer local services, and the erosion of the area’s cultural identity.

With MPs, residents, and local councils demanding change, the future of short-term rentals in central London may soon face stricter regulation.

The Standard source >>>