Over 50% of UK second homeowners consider STR letting amid tax changes, Sykes research finds
UK: Most second homeowners in England who currently keep their properties for personal use are now considering opening them up to holidaymakers or tenants, according to new research from holiday cottage rental agency Sykes Holiday Cottages. The company’s latest survey of second homeowners who do not currently let their properties found that 71 per cent […]
Gwynedd introduces second home + holiday let rules in Wales
Wales: Gwynedd, a county located in the north-west of Wales, has become the first area in the country to bring in new rules that will require homeowners to obtain planning permission if they want to turn their main property into a second home or holiday let.
Hopes Labour housing plans will end holiday let ‘blame culture’
UK: Following the results of last week’s UK General Election, new Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement of new measures to accelerate housebuilding in the UK has been welcomed by the holiday let sector, which has been calling for some time for governments to tackle the real factors affecting the housing market.
Holyrood relaxes holiday let licensing law in Scotland
Scotland: MSPs in Holyrood have announced a number of technical updates to the short-term lets licensing scheme that was introduced in 2022, sparking relief for holiday let owners in Scotland.
Empty homes outnumber holiday lets in majority of UK destinations
UK: The holiday let industry is setting out to expose the “rampant hypocrisy” at the heart of attacks on the sector as new research reveals that empty homes outnumber holiday lets in the majority of UK local authorities.
Petition and survey launched to address FHL tax regime
UK: After the UK Government announced that it was scrapping tax relief for holiday lets earlier this month, a petition and survey have both been launched to address the incoming Furnished Holiday Lettings [FHL] tax regime and assess its impact on businesses across the UK.
UK Chancellor scraps tax relief for holiday lets in Spring Budget
UK: As expected, UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced that the government is scrapping tax relief for holiday lets to improve the availability of long-term rentals as part of his Spring Budget 2024.
Leeds Building Society to trial new holiday let lending restrictions
UK: Leeds Building Society is to trial restrictions on new lending for holiday homes in parts of Norfolk and Yorkshire that have become tourist hotspots.
STAA highlights missed opportunity to solve housing crisis
UK: The ongoing missed opportunity to solve the housing crisis was laid bare today by new research, conducted by the UK Short Term Accommodation Association [STAA], that revealed councils have identified almost two million unbuilt homes that are ‘deliverable’ in England.
Over 370k homes unbuilt in Scotland as crackdown begins
Scotland: While the holiday let industry is blamed for the housing crisis, prompting a nationwide clampdown, a pipeline of more than 370,000 homes across Scotland remains unbuilt, new research has revealed.