A new register of Airbnb and other short let properties may be tested as soon as this spring.

The London online newspaper The Standard says the aim is to catch businesses and individuals breaking an existing 90-night limit on short lets in the capital. 

The Standard says details of the register, how it will run and who will enforce it, will be released before April. 

It is not yet known whether the scheme will be voluntary or compulsory, nor whether its roll-out in London will be followed by the same measure applying across England. 

Westminster’s Labour council claims that as many as two thirds of the 9,300 Airbnb-style short lets within the borough breach the 90-night rule. 

The 90-night rule was introduced to protect homes for Londoners and to limit disruption from noisy guests in short-term lets, as well as rubbish left outside doors.

Cities of London and Westminster Labour MP Rachel Blake wants her area to be a testbed for the scheme.

The Standard quotes her saying: “This is a really significant issue for the whole country but especially for central London where we are losing up to 20% of our homes in some parts of my constituency to short-term lets.

“I’m concerned about the number of properties where the 90-day rule is being breached.

“That is why we need a registration scheme urgently.

“I’m asking the government to pilot the registration scheme in Cities of London and Westminster as soon as possible.”