A Labour MP who wants a licensing system to be introduced for Airbnb-style short lets and holiday accommodation is holding a so-called ‘community meeting’ on the issue tomorrow.
Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York, wants the Scottish licensing model to be extended across England, enabling local authorities to set up control zones to limit the expansion of holiday lets where housing is considered to be ‘under pressure’.
The measure would also give councils new powers to close down short lets that are causing a repeated nuisance to local residents, and returning these homes to mainstream residential use.
Maskell says her initiatives – which go further than those suggested by the government last year – is backed by some other MPs who want to protect rural, coastal and urban communities with a common concern about ”villages hollowed out by holiday let investors and second home-owners, and urban streets that are now party streets.”
At the end of last year Maskell wrote in local media in York that in addition to the impact on housing supply, “on the darker side, we hear anecdotally that in some places these properties harbour criminal activities, from modern slavery to [drug criminals known as] County Lines.”
Now Maskell is holding a meeting with seats bookable via her website.
She has told local media in York: “The expansion of short-term holiday lets, and their impact on community life, is an issue of great concern to me and many other residents across the city. Last year, I presented my ‘Fairbnb Bill’ to government.
“Much of my bill has now been adopted by the government in this new legislation [the Levelling Up Bill, now going through Pariament], although there are areas that I am still keen to see strengthened if we are to meet the scale of the challenges faced in some of our neighbourhoods.
“I am really glad that the government is finally recognising the need for better regulation of short-term lets, but am keen to push for further local powers, so that councils can develop tailored approaches that address local issues and answer community concerns.
“These consultations are the best way the people of York can push the government to make these essential changes, and this meeting is an opportunity to find out more about the proposals and how to most effectively respond to these consultations.”
After the recent local elections the newly-appointed York council leader – Labour’s Claire Douglas – told local press that she was “committed” to extending licensing of landlords and ensuring reduced numbers of Airbnbs and short-term holiday lets in the city.
