The government is set to review additional measures aimed at providing councils with greater powers to address pressures caused by short-term lets. This was stated by Labour’s Baroness Taylor of Stevenage in response to a written parliamentary question.
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage said the government is already taking action, including changes to the tax system. These changes involve abolishing the furnished holiday lets tax regime and increasing the higher rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax on additional dwellings by two percentage points, from three to five percentage points above standard rates.
Mayors are also being empowered to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation within their regions. Additionally, the government has committed to introducing a mandatory national registration scheme for short-term lets, requiring hosts to register properties and display a unique reference number on all listing platforms. Hosts will also need to confirm compliance with existing regulations such as fire safety, gas, and electrical certifications.
A review exploring how social housing providers manage their stock, including tackling fraud, has been commissioned, with findings expected to be published later this year.