A Green councillor in a city which has a Green MP is calling for the local authority to require planning consent before landlords and home owners can use their properties for Airbnb-style short lets.

Local media in Brighton says councillor Ellen McLeay plans to propose a motion on the subject at a meeting of the city council tomorrow, on how the council can use its planning powers to control short lets. 

She wants the council to use Article 4 Direction powers to control properties used for short lets or as HMOs.

The Brighton and Hove News says McLeay also plans to ask council leader Bella Sankey to write to the government asking for all councils to have the power to regulate short-term lets and ensure any loopholes are closed.

Another Green councillor in Brighton, Chloe Goldsmith, is quoted as saying: “As a renter myself and councillor for a ward with a high proportion of renters, I understand that this is just one of many problems with the housing market in our city but it’s one which we need to tackle as soon as possible.

“The outgoing Tory government never fulfilled its promise to give councils the powers to regulate short-term lets. But I hope this Labour government will – and the council should begin the initial work now to ensure we are ready to implement these regulations as soon as possible.”