After much controversy in tourism hotspots around dwellings being taken out of the permanent housing market for use as short term holiday lets, the Government has launched two major consultations. The first is around developing a tourist accommodation registration scheme and the second is around introducing a new planning use class for short term lets and associated permitted development rights.

These consultations follow a similar move in Wales that has already taken effect and, given the considerable political momentum, are highly likely to result in a change in the planning regime in England to allow local planning authorities to prevent or restrict the use of dwellings for short term holiday lets if they consider it appropriate to to do so.

We will be responding to the consultation and will provide an update when there is more to report.