Illegal short-term letting is damaging the communities of Westminster

Illegal Short-Term lets

At the start of the New Year, we caught up with the Conservative Leader of Westminster City Council, Cllr Paul Swaddle, who is calling on Labour-led Westminster Council to tackle illegal short-term lettings.

Paul explained, 

As the New Year arrives, the people of Westminster are once again paying the price for Labour’s failure on illegal short-term lets.

As families try to enjoy the festive period, too many streets are left with late-night parties, dumped rubbish and disruption caused by a carousel of strangers and short-term lets operating illegally.

The law is clear: private properties can only be let for up to 90 nights a year and Council-owned properties cannot be sublet at all.

But this is not a seasonal blip. It is a problem Labour at every level has allowed to grow unchecked.

At Labour-led Westminster City Council, enforcement has been neglected and complaints left unresolved. Rogue operators continue to profit while local people wake up to littered streets, noise and a degraded community.

At Sadiq Khan’s City Hall and under Labour’s government, it is the same pattern of failure. Promises made, action delayed, and local people left to deal with the consequences.

This is the same old Labour story. No grip. No delivery. No leadership.

✅ Westminster Conservatives have a plan

We are focused on solutions, not excuses. We are developing practical measures to protect communities, including:

  • Stronger, properly resourced enforcement
  • Tougher action on repeat offenders
  • Demanding better coordination across the Council, City Hall and government
  • Clear rules that are enforced consistently

The New Year should mean a fresh start. Not more of the same disruption caused by Labour incompetence.

👇 Back our campaign to end illegal short-term lets and demand action:

By backing this campaign, you are supporting our call for:

  • Proper enforcement against illegal short-term lets that fuel noise, rubbish and anti-social behaviour
  • Tough action on repeat offenders who profit while local communities suffer
  • Clear leadership from Westminster Council, City Hall and government to stop illegal lets being ignored

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Paul Swaddle Headshot

Paul Swaddle

Councillor for Regent's Park Ward
Leader of the Conservative Group at Westminster City Council
Paul lives in North Marylebone and brings a wealth of real-world experience to the City Council as the CEO of a central London software company. Having lived in the St John’s Wood and Marylebone area since 2015, Paul has served as a dedicated local councillor since 2018.

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