Jul

EXCLUSIVE: Airbnb’s long-awaited plan for landlord regulation in UK is latest Covid casualty

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Airbnb’s long-awaited ‘white paper’ of recommendations detailing its proposals for a simple statutory registration system for short-term rentals has been delayed until later this year.

The platform had been due to produce the proposals in June after holding a Host Registration Roadshow that started in February and included discussions with hosts, communities and politicians across the UK.

A spokesman tells LandlordZONE: “The roadshow was disrupted because of the lockdown but we will share the output with the Government and all interested stakeholders once complete.”

Although the Government has no plans to ban the use of residential property for short-term lets and has been reluctant to pass further legislation, the sector is waiting for an announcement.

Greater regulation

MPs are still studying a House of Commons Library briefing document discussing calls for greater regulation.

The document highlights a lack of taxation compliance by short-term landlords, the impact on local housing markets, and health and safety issues.

A recent incident in Denmark Hill, London, at an Airbnb property where a woman was stabbed during a large-scale fight at a party shows that short-term lets being used inappropriately remains a concern.

One resident told the local press that complaints to the landlord, Lambeth Council and police had not prevented the landlord from continuing to rent the property out via AirBnB, where large groups of 40 or more gathered and loud music was played.

Other complaints highlighted noise, lockdown restrictions being broken, and trespassing on neighbouring properties in the fortnight before the stabbing.

Read more about the roadshow.

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