A Tory MP representing a popular tourist area has attacked the proliferation of short lets, and wants a “locals first” policy for housing.
Simon Jupp, first elected din 2019, represents East Devon, a constituency which includes popular tourist areas such as Exmouth, Sidmouth and Topsham.
In a column in the Exmouth Journal he says: “I appreciate that short-term holiday lets can bring visitors and boost our economy. But … in Parliament I made a clear case that we need to prioritise the people who make our county such a great place to visit.”
He says he backs Tory government measures such as higher rates of stamp duty on additional properties, closing business rate loopholes, and allowing councils to double council tax on second homes. But he singles out short lets as requiring ”more action.”
Jupp says a government proposal to bring in a registration scheme for short term lets will bring them up to a higher standards and will give councils “the data they need to take enforcement action against anti-social behaviour and non-compliance with key health and safety regulations.”
He backs giving councils stricter powers to block short lets in areas where there are ”already too many.”
However, his most innovative proposal – which has has suggested in the past – is to reserve a percentage of new build homes for people with a local family or economic connection to an area.
“We do need to build more homes in East Devon while looking after locals first” claims Jupp.
“Visitors contribute a great deal to our communities in East Devon. But their stay is often only enjoyable because of local workers behind the bar of a pub, in the kitchen of a restaurant, or tapping on the till of a local high street shop.”
