The government only has itself to blame for the explosion in AirBnb and other short lets properties.
That’s the view of the National Residential Landlords Association.
This follows the launch earlier this week of a review into short lets and their impact on the housing and tourist markets.
NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle says: “The growth in holiday lets is a direct consequence of the Government’s attack on long-term rented housing.
“Tax policies actively discourage long-term investment in the private rented sector by landlords.
“With a Housing Secretary that wants to shrink the size of the sector, it is little wonder many landlords have jumped ship to the holiday lets market.
“As a result, for many in holiday hot spots finding a long-term home to rent is all but impossible. With demand for such housing at a record high, all it is doing is increasing rents when tenants can least afford it.
“The government needs to end its anti-landlord attitude and develop pro-growth tax plans to help renters access the housing they need.”
The government says Airbnb listing data shows a 33 per cent increase in UK listings between 2017 and 2018 and the rise in the use of online platforms for short-term letting has brought many benefits - from an increase in the variety and availability of options to allowing people to make money from renting out spare rooms and properties.
But the government says it understands there can be an impact on housing supply and price in these areas and there are fears caused by evidence of a rise in anti-social behaviour including noise, waste and drunken behaviour in local communities.
Lower protections for guests caused by negligence of health and safety regulations are also amongst the concerns.
The review will also consider the operation of the provisions in London under the Deregulation Act 2015 to allow for measures to be taken against anti-social behaviour, whilst allowing Londoners to let out their homes.
The government says future policies to control Airbnbs and other short lets could involve physical checks of premises to ensure rules on health and safety, noise and anti-social behaviour are obeyed.
Further measures the government is considering include a registration ‘kitemark’ scheme with spot checks for compliance with rules on issues such as gas safety, a self-certification scheme for hosts to register with before they can operate, and better information or a single source of guidance setting out the legal requirements for providers.
Details of the review and call for evidence can be found here.
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It’s like “ whack-a-mole”, the government always trying to hit anything that appears to be beneficial to the public, all they have done is make the PRS a lot worse.
I like the whack-a-mole analogy Simon. I'll steal that if I may. An email is due to my MP soon anyway
Covid and staycation have also contributed to the UK holiday market.
I have done both, there is much more work with short let's than residential.
Each holiday letting unit adds a local job with pubs, restaurants, shops cleaning etc so let's also look on the positive side too
I don't think that an increase in short lets/holiday lets will necessarily damage housing supply. When indefinite periodic tenants become the norm, many landlords will either seek to switch to short lets or they will sell; they won't let on the basis proposed in the White Paper.
I find myself agreeing with NRLA for most part on this one but too much left unsaid, like the threat of removing Assured Shorthold Tenancies, Removing Section 21, Introduction of HMO Licensing, Section 24 etc,
all contributory factions to bring about the demise of PRS.
Spot on Michael!
You missed out the eviction ban and rent payment holidays during the pandemic. No other industry was expected to provide full service for it's clients with no right to expect payment or government support.
Thankfully most tenants are decent human beings who wouldn't dream of abusing their landlord in such a way but the fact the government put measures in place that left us so vulnerable is shocking.
The rules seem to be driven towards dealing with what you might call 'bad landlords' and I'm sure there are plenty of them. However, I'm convinced that label is not applicable to the huge majority of landlords like myself who simply want to take advantage of an investment opportunity and genuinely want to provide decent houses to live in. The new rules changes are worrying.
For me the incentive to own property long term initially reduced with removal of taper benefits within CGT rules that applied into the early 2000's. This has been reinforced with removal of mortgage repayments as a valid charge against income tax enacted over the past few years to the point where I seriously wonder if the whole thing is worth the effort. It has been until now due to capital values increasing but if that stalls I know what I'll be doing next and it gives me no pleasure to know that would be forcing families who have lived in my properties for years to look for new homes.
Well said Andy, thus far I have been able to sell when a tenant has left, unfortunately this will change and it gives me no pleasure doing this but with increasing interest rates and no incentives from central government it is time for me to look elsewhere for better investments, even if this means overseas!
I disagree with one sentiment you make about plenty of bad landlords I have 12 rental properties have in the game for 25 years I know loads of landlords I have never met a bad landlord. If you read the propaganda in the Guardian and what’s spouted by the leftist media you start to think it’s a thing when infact it’s a tiny tiny majority. Most are incredibly professional and that’s the norm
It has been a perfect storm for tenants, the pandemic with Uk holidays being so popular, the fact that most of the draconian rules affecting the PRS do not touch holiday let’s. Then if your 3 bed semi in Looe or Newquay will make 5 times as much going to tourists instead of the young Cornish family who currently let it ……. All the government seems to be able to do is make everything worse !! Punishment for investment only leads to less investment.
Hey Guys,
I love and support your comments.
But please write your concerns to your local MP and local councillors.
They will then have to take note of your conclusions of the harm current and future policies bring.
Remember politicians don't know the true effects as they have so called experts to guide them.
Let that expert experience be yours.
Make sure you all share this message.
Let the interfering classes hear our message. Fill their in boxes and letter boxes with the truth to counter the lies and misinformation of self appointed campaigning experts.
Ps.. pass it on.
Finally NRLA actually saying something!! Sadly no-one that matters will read it or take note because they appear to have no P.R department or if they do they clearly need replacing!!
And yes I totally agree with their comments. I have switched a number of properties to short lets that are no longer profitable as BTL's as a direct result of section 24. If they bring in section 24 or other penalties for short lets too it won't encourage me to convert these properties back to BTL because I still won't make much money on the said properties. However as has been said above short lets are more work and there is no such thing as a free lunch ... but remove section 24 on BTL's altogether and I'll convert back in a shot. I'm not greedy I just want a fair return for efforts.
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