In some areas there are large concentrations of short term letting uses. These can sometimes impact negatively on the sustainability of communities.
Government guidance
Government published some limited guidance in April 2026 on rules and regulations relating to short term lets. You can view it at Letting out a self-catering holiday home in England: rules and regulations GOV.UK
This follows from a consultation on new 'short term lets' controls in early 2024. Short-term lets rules to protect communities and keep homes available GOV.UK
The proposals included:
- a mandatory national register of short term lets. This would provide information on their spread and help ensure accommodation is safe
- homeowners letting out own main or sole home for up to 90 nights a year can continue without it being a change of use
- a new planning use class for properties used as short term lets subject to associated permitted development rights. Councils would have powers where they can show that uncontrolled short term lets would undermine sustainable communities. The Council would be able to remove the permitted development rights and require full planning permission. This would be via an Article 4 Direction and take up to 12 months to achieve.
Next steps
Government is expected to tell us in 2026:
- their response to the previous consultations
- what rules will now be put in place
- how the rules will work in practice
- timescales for the new Register and the use class
It appears that a proposed mandatory register for Short Term Lets will be introduced over the coming months.
We understand that planning changes continue to be part of the proposals. This means the planning use class order will be amended in due course, although no firm timescale is given for that.
We will provide more details of the proposals and timetable when confirmed by Government.