Are you affected by short lets?
Short-term lets are where homeowners rent a property or room on a nightly basis or over one or two days. Over the course of a year, homeowners are allowed to let their property for up to 90 nights in London. For some, this is an important source of income. Short letting also supports tourism which is why Westminster City Council is not against it being carried out responsibly.
However, an increasing number of landlords have started to bend the rules. A number of properties are being let out over the 90-day limit as landlords look to maximise their income. As a result, the supply of long-term rental properties in our City is being reduced, forcing up the cost of renting.
There have also been issues surrounding the management of many short lets. The hands-off approach of some landlords has led to loud and persistent noise problems, dumped rubbish, anti-social behaviour and even illicit activity being linked to their properties. This has created havoc for many people living next to short lets.
Your local Councillors are constantly responding to any issues that are raised with them. Westminster Conservatives have become increasingly concerned about the impact short letting is having on our City’s communities. Something needs to be done to resolve the issues associated with short-term lets.
That is why Westminster Council Leader, Rachael Robathan, Conservative Councillors and Member of Parliament for the Cities of London & Westminster Nickie Aiken, have joined forces, calling on the Government to introduce a registration scheme for all short lets to resolve these issues.
Cllr Rachael Robathan explains,
“We know the serious nuisance short-term lettings can cause in our neighbourhoods. From Pimlico to Paddington, Covent Garden to Little Venice and across the City local people tell us of the problems of noise, dumped rubbish and the fact you don’t know who is coming in and out of your building throughout the day and night.
“We currently have very few levers to address the matter even though we have endeavoured to bring rogue landlords to book for a number of years.
“Having a registration scheme will mean we know where the properties are and enable us to target those which cause a nuisance and exceed the 90 nights.”
Westminster Conservatives have launched a petition calling on the government to introduce a registration scheme for short lets. You can sign it below.
