As the popularity of short-term holiday letting continues to rise across the UK, the government has taken a step towards regulating the industry.
On February 19th, 2024, it was confirmed that a mandatory national short-term lets register and a new planning class for short-term lets would be introduced. This new regulation is set to come into effect in 2025. Here’s all you need to know about the new short-term/holiday let registration laws – and how to ensure your property stays fully compliant.
What is the national registration scheme for short lets?
The new registration scheme introduced by the UK government will be a centralised system to regulate short-term rentals. All holiday let operators in England must register their properties through a digital portal.
Short-term lets play a vital role in the UK’s visitor accommodation landscape, and the government recognises their advantages. They provide additional income for homeowners and contribute to local economies through increased spending by visitors.
But the positives come with challenges. The rise of short-term lets has also introduced difficulties in monitoring adherence to health and safety regulations, as well as the effects on housing availability and affordability in regions with a high concentration of these rentals.
What does the national registration scheme for short lets aim to do?
Introduced in response to concerns over unregulated holiday lets, the scheme aims to address safety risks, housing shortages, and community disruption. It will help authorities better manage listings and ensure hosts meet clear standards for safety, zoning, and financial transparency within the tourism and hospitality sector. It will:
Be mandatory: If you host a short-term holiday let in your area, you must be registered.
Improve accountability: Listing managers or hosts must keep accurate records and show compliance with the regulations.
Improve safety standards: The scheme will enforce safety measures.
Aim to reduce risks: The scheme aims to reduce the dangers of unlicensed and unsafe holiday lets.
Involve local authorities: Local councils will have a role in enforcing the guidelines.
How will this scheme impact property managers?
If you are not already set up as a short-term let property, you may need to apply for planning permission to operate.
The launch of the national short-lets registration scheme will significantly affect listing managers. It introduces additional responsibilities, including managing new paperwork and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
The manager must meet these requirements. Non-compliance with registration or safety standards may result in heavy fines, and platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com may remove listings for properties that are not registered.
Listing managers will need to coordinate with local councils to ensure adherence.
Challenges this may bring for property managers in meeting the new requirements
The national short-lets registration scheme will offer numerous benefits; however, it also poses several challenges for listing managers to tackle.
The initial adjustment to comply with these new standards will require time for paperwork, documentation, pending costs, and communication with local authorities.
Listing managers may need to enhance their listings to comply with safety and regulatory standards. They need to verify that all listings comply with these requirements, which may require hiring extra staff or contractors.
How Pass the Keys Peak District can help property managers comply
The good news is that it also appears to suggest that if you are already set up as a short term letting property, with a company such as Pass the Keys Peak District, then we understand only the registration element of the law change will apply – as short letting experts, we can guide you through this process.
So, existing ‘dedicated’ short-term lets will automatically be reclassified into the new use class and will not require a planning application.
If you are intending to short let your property and would like to register with Pass the Keys, then please contact us via phone or email matt.clayton@passthekeys.co.uk or 01298 605395
How else can property managers prepare?
There are ways to prepare for the new registration scheme before it is enforced and ensure a smooth transition.
- Assess your listing and review it thoroughly to identify any potential issues or upgrades needed.
- Check your safety features and ensure your property is equipped with necessary ones, such as smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors—schedule gas, electrical, and fire safety inspections.
- Research and understand the new registration process for listing holiday lets.
- Implement a system for managing listing-related records, including maintenance, financial transactions, and safety checks.
- Keep up to date with any changes in guidelines or updates from local councils.
- Train your team and ensure staff understand the new protocols.
- For help from a property management company, you can register with Pass the Keys Peak District.
So, all in all, stay informed, stay organised, and utilise the right tools to tackle these challenges efficiently. Hopefully, this article has helped you to make sense of the new short-term/holiday let registration laws.
By welcoming these changes, listing managers can avoid fines and improve their standing in the holiday let sector. Those who take a proactive approach and prepare in advance will gain a competitive edge over those who are slower to adapt. If you’re planning to short-let your property, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
Peak District-based holiday let management and support team
If you are considering holiday let management in the Peak District, we can help you. With competitive pricing and our 24/7 guest support team consisting of real people who know the properties and Peak District area well, the team is always available to answer your questions.
We offer a complete end-to-end support service to ensure your holiday or short-let property realises its full rental income and occupancy potential. We operate using our Peak District teams and providers who understand the importance of knowing your local area better than anyone.
Here are a few ways we can support you:
- Complete property management support service, including cleaning and linen management.
- Rolling 12-month contract.
- Peak District-based support team to ensure your short-let property is well managed.
If you have any questions about any of the above, you can contact us, and we will help in any way we can. We hope this article has been helpful, and we thank you for your cooperation!
