New Bill Aims to Strengthen Controls on Second Homes and Short-Term Lets

A new Private Members’ Bill has been introduced to Parliament that seeks to tighten planning rules for short-term holiday lets and second homes. The proposal would require property owners to apply for planning permission before letting out their properties on a short-term basis.

The initiative, led by North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire, is intended to help address what is seen as a loophole that enables some property owners to avoid paying council tax by switching their homes to business rates via holiday letting. The Bill builds on wider efforts to manage the impact of second homes and short-term lets on local housing markets.

A story reported by BBC News last week highlighted the proposals as part of efforts to address housing pressures in rural and coastal communities.

John Brown, CEO of the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, speaking to the BBC, welcomed the Bill as a "starting point," stressing that it should be part of a broader framework including stronger regulation and a comprehensive registration system. He pointed to the scale of the issue in Cornwall, where an estimated 14,000 second homes sit alongside a housing waiting list of around 22,000 people.

The proposal has attracted mixed responses. Supporters argue it could help return more housing stock to local residents and improve the availability of secure housing for workers in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

However, Airbnb UK’s public policy manager Carl Thomson expressed concern that new restrictions and fees could harm local families who rely on letting their homes for additional income. He noted that a typical Airbnb host in Cornwall rents out a single property for fewer than three nights per month, contributing to the local economy and employment.

Government policy in this area continues to evolve. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the government is committed to addressing the impacts of concentrated short-term lets through its Plan for Change. Recent measures include the abolition of the furnished holiday lets tax regime, new powers for councils to levy higher council tax on second homes, and plans for a national mandatory registration scheme for short-term lets.

The Rural Services Network continues to advocate for housing policies that support thriving rural communities, recognising the need to balance local housing needs with the economic contribution of tourism across rural and coastal areas. We will be monitoring the progress of this Bill and wider developments in this space.