AirBNB - Could the planning system be clamping down?

The news that the government are consulting on clamping down on the renting out of dwellings and second-homes as short term holiday lets will not cheer those using AirBNB or similar sites to earn extra income. Numerous local authorities are feeling threatened by these short term holiday lets, to a point where the government are proposing to introduce a new class of planning use, to be called 'Class C5 - Short term Lets'.

For existing properties making use of this opportunity nothing may change as it may become permitted development to change from the current usage to class C5, but in sensitive locations such as seaside towns, holiday resorts and conservation areas, this would give the opportunity to local authorities to impose an Article 4 Direction which will mean that planning permission will be required to rent out your property for short-term holiday accommodation.

The big challenge here is the push for new houses to be built for local people in locations where properties can command a very high short-term rental value, certainly we can see which would be more attractive to developers and property owners!