The UK Government has proposed a number of changes to the Town and Country Planning) 1987, as amended and the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, as amended, and the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) Regulations 2012, as amended. The proposals only relate to England.
The consultation is seeking views on a short-term use class being introduced and new permitted development rights which could provide increased flexibility in areas where short term lets are not an issue. The consultation will also seek views on how homeowners can let out their home for a set number of nights per year without the need for permission. In addition, views are being sought on the planning application fee required where permission is required for the development of a new short term let.
The consultation period will run from 12th to 7th June 2023. The full details of the proposed changes are available on the UK Government website: Introduction of a use class for short term lets and associated permitted development rights – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
What changes are being proposed?
– Introducing a new use class for short terms lets under the description “C5 Short Term Let” which would include the “Use of a dwellinghouse that is not a sole or main residence for temporary sleeping accommodation for the purpose of holiday, leisure, recreation, business or other travel.”
– Second homes which are let out for part of the year will fall into the C5 short term use class where they meet the definition. If the definition is already met, then a property owner would not need to apply for planning permission.
– The consultation recognises that some homeowners may rent out their home when on holiday. The proposal seeks to reduce timescales for this and seeks responses on whether it should be restricted to 30, 60 or 90 days.
– It is proposed that the GPDO may be amended to introduce permitted development rights to allow:
a) The change of use from a C3 dwellinghouse to a C5 short term let
b) The change of use from a C5 short term let to a C3 dwellinghouse
– The introduction of a register of short term lets will be introduced through the Levelling up and Regeneration Bill. This will help provide information about which properties are being let out in the area, allowing them to enforce the use class changes.
Alongside this consultation, an additional consultation is taking place which seeks views on the proposed short term let registration scheme. This closes on the 7th of June 2023.