A council has become the first to require home owners to secure planning consent before their property can be used as a second home or short-let. 

Gwynedd council in Wales will bring the so-called Article 4 Direction into effect from September 1.

The move was widely anticipated and confirmed this week by local councillors, who claim that over 65% of the local population priced out of the immediate housing market. The local authority has already taken advantage of tax powers to raise the premium rate for second homes and short-term lets to a rate of 150%. 

The direction means anyone within the council’s designated area will need consent for (a) change of use of a main residence into a second home or short-term holiday let; (b) change of use of a second home to a short-term holiday let; or (c) change of use from a short-term holiday let to a second home.

Properties that are already classed as short lets or second homes when the direction takes effect will not need to apply for permission retrospectively.

The council says the new power is “innovative” and a spokesperson adds: “Research shows that a significant proportion of people in Gwynedd are priced out of the housing market and that is more evident in communities with higher numbers of holiday homes. It is therefore inevitable that the significant number of houses being used as second homes and short-term holiday accommodation is affecting the ability of the people of Gwynedd to access homes in their communities.  

“By introducing an Article 4 Direction, the council will have a new tool to try to control the impact of second homes and holiday accommodation. The change will require owners to submit a planning application for changing the use of residential properties into second homes or short-term holiday accommodation.

“Following this decision, Gwynedd will become the first planning authority to use these new planning powers introduced by the government. Detailed work has been carried out over the past year to set out the case for the change to be made and we are very grateful to everyone who took part during the public engagement period.”