2/2/2022
Government white paper confirms Section 21' no fault eviction' will be abolished in UK
The government's long awaited White Paper confirms that a landlord's automatic right to gain possession of their rental property will be abolished. Section 21 ' no fault evictions' will no longer exist and landlords will have to apply to the courts or tribunal to prove they have grounds to remove a tenant, when this statute becomes law.
There are no timings given at this stage.
Many believe that it is has been Section 21 that allowed and underpinned the growth of The Buy To Let Sector encouraging Lenders to enter the market offering finance to landlords, and allowing landlords to keep control of their properties and rental income.
21/1/2022
All Scottish Airbnb Short Stay Properties Must Obtain Licence By 2023 & 2024.
Councils will be given powers to ensure short-term lets are safe and meet the needs of their local communities under legislation laid before the Scottish Parliament.
Under the legislation, all local authorities will be required to establish a short-term lets licensing scheme by October 2022. Existing hosts and operators will have until 1 April 2023 to apply for a licence for each property that they operate as a short-term let. All short-term lets in Scotland will have to be licensed by 1 July 2024.
14/1/2022
Government Backs ' Responsible Short Term Letting' Who Will Still Continue To Qualify For Business Rating
Michael Gove, the Levelling up Secretary, has announced new rules that will mean From April 2023 second home owners can only register for business rates if they can prove they let the properties for at least 70 days in a year.
Currently, they are permitted to pay business rates, which are cheaper than council tax, if they make their property available for letting for 140 days in a coming year.
Housing Secretary Michael Gove commented: “The government backs small businesses, including responsible short-term letting, which attracts tourists and brings significant investment to local communities.
“However, we will not stand by and allow people in privileged positions to abuse the system by unfairly claiming tax relief and leaving local people counting the cost.
Receiving a Business Rating is likely to be a future test to prove your property is deemed to have a short / holiday let status.
13/1/2022
Government 'Airbnb' Regulation On The Way In U.K. ?
The government is to launch a consultation on plans to introduce a national register in England for holiday lets which will look at their effect on local housing supply and whether greater compliance with health and safety regulation is needed.
Farron is both the party’s housing spokesperson and MP for a leading holiday hotspot constituency in the Lake District, Westmorland and Lonsdale.
In answer to comments by speakers including Hunters founder and MP Kevin Hollinrake and shadow housing minister Matthew Pennycook that a national register would shed light on how many holiday rentals there are in England, housing minister Chris Pincher revealed that a consultation on the matter is due
“We recognise that a large number of second homes and holiday lets can have adverse effects in some areas, so I will look closely at his proposals and at the points raised by other colleagues,” he said.
“We also do not have the information needed to understand how, and for how long, a property is being used.
“I can confirm that we propose to consult on the introduction of a tourist accommodation registration scheme in England so that we can build an understanding of the evidence and the issues that second homes present, particularly when driven by the rise of online platforms such as Airbnb.
“We will launch that consultation later this year and will begin the process of a call for evidence in the coming weeks.
“We want to look at not just the issue of short-term holiday letting, but the effect that it has on supply. We will also look at compliance, health and safety regulations and the effect of antisocial behaviour and so on.”
A competent registration scheme would weed out leasehold apartments operating without the necessary permissions & insurance in place, so reducing competition for legitimate short stay properties.
A good step for existing short stay operators would be to join the new Visit England Accreditation Scheme. this is a simple entry level scheme showing basic permissions are in place along with health and safety measures for your short stay property.
Want to be one of the winners when regulation enters the market email us to discuss in more detail.
15/11/21
Wales To Consider New Planning Use Status For Second Homes & Holiday Lets.
A consultation exercise will launch in January 2022 to seek views on introducing a new "planning class" for short term holiday accommodation. The change, if implemented, would allow councils to designate specific "problem" areas where planning permission would be needed if any buyer planned to use a property as a second home or a short term let.
The change could be introduced from next summer.
20/9/21
Ministry Of Housing Renamed Department Of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has had its name changed to become the ‘Department for Levelling Up’ under Michael Gove‘s leadership.
Mr Gove will head up the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, a role that will see him responsible for delivering “improvements to every part of the UK”, Downing Street has said.
Mr Gove said: “I’m thrilled that the PM has asked me to lead the levelling up agenda, the defining mission of this Government.
“With a superb team of ministers and officials in a new department, our relentless focus will be on delivering for those overlooked families and undervalued communities across the United Kingdom.
“We have a unique opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives.
So the message is loud and clear, the government's priority is to kick start their levelling up agenda, knowing if they fail to convince the electorate, that the Conservative Party will very likely fall from power at the next general election.
Importantly Housing will be seen very much as a major part of the levelling up agenda.
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