Disgruntled residents in York have backed a petition to clamp down on the number of short-term lets in the city.
About 2-3% of all York properties (2,000) are short-term lets, and campaigners say they cause problems for residents and pile pressure on housing availability.
A petition on Change.org started by York councillors in Guildhall ward has already garnered 1,038 signatures and aims to encourage central government to give local authorities more control over the management of holiday let accommodation, and the powers to limit numbers and density.
It explains that these properties are blighted by noise and disruption caused by holidaymakers coming and going more frequently than residents, while extra waste leaves bins overflowing and more cars put strain on residents’ parking. It adds that communities are being “hollowed out” by the spread that pushes up prices on long-term rentals
It welcomes York Central MP Rachael Maskell’s Private Members Bill to license holiday lets and reduce the number of homes being turned into holiday lets, which should get a hearing later this year.
Work on proposals from the previous Conservative government to register holiday lets is ongoing, with Labour Tourism Minister Chris Bryant telling MPs in January they would be ready soon.
Germaine Mason, who helps manage York properties for rental company Pass The Keys, says the sector recognises people have concerns about holiday lets and backs proposals to register them, reports The York Press.
However, she warns against an abrupt decision on tougher rules so jobs and short lets’ contribution to the local economy are not put at risk.
Mason told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “A registration scheme is a sensible approach - we know we’re a lightly regulated industry compared to others. We should get the data and see where the areas of concern are first before we make any abrupt decisions about regulation.”
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