Holiday let crackdown would 'need justification'

Proposals to crack down on holiday lets by introducing stricter planning rules would need to be justified, according to a council report.

Brighton and Hove City Council's cabinet are to consider adding clauses to leases for new homes and conversions to prevent them from being used as short-term lets, amid concerns over their impact on housing supply.

The report also proposes creating designated "zones" where they would be permitted in planning policies.

The report, which says more evidence is needed to justify either measure, will be considered at the cabinet meeting on Thursday.

The cabinet is being advised to lobby the government for a new planning class for short-term lets and a licensing scheme requiring registration as a business.

This would ensure the correct arrangements for tax, business rates, parking, insurance and waste management, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The council has put itself forward for a potential pilot project to register properties used as short-term lets, often just known as Airbnbs, before any government decision to introduce such a scheme.

The report to be considered said: "It would be beyond the remit of planning to require clauses are added to a lease for new builds and conversions to restrict use as full-time short-term lets.

"However, if a new policy could be included in the City Plan, a condition or … agreement could be attached to the planning decision, restricting the use as short-term lets.

"We want to take a balanced approach to this complex and important issue that both supports our tourist and visitor economy and prevents negative impacts to the city's housing supply."

It is not clear how many homes are used as short-term lets in Brighton and Hove but the figure is believed to be between 2,000 and 6,000.

A study in 2023, estimated there were 4m overnight stays in Brighton and Hove across the year, about 11,000 a night.

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