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Rules banning short-term London lets to end

paulajohn
Written By:
paulajohn
Posted:
Updated:
27/03/2015

Communities secretary Eric Pickles is to withdraw rules which prevent the short-term renting of private homes in London.

The new measures will end rules from the 1970s which prevent London residents from renting out their own homes on a short-term basis to visitors.

These 40-year-old laws dating from the time of the Greater London Council prevent Londoners who want to rent out their homes for less than three months as they technically still have to apply for planning permission from the council.

These rules do not apply outside of the capital and are irregularly enforced by different London boroughs, something the government believes leads to confusion.

Ministers now want to change this archaic system through a measure in the Deregulation Bill, giving Londoners the freedom to rent out their homes on a temporary basis, such when they are on holiday, without having to deal with unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy of paying of a council permit.

The measure will not allow homes to be turned into hotels or hostels – this would still require ‘change of use’ planning permission, and measures will be put in place to prevent abuse of such reforms or the permanent loss of residential accommodation.

Pickles said: “The internet is changing the way we work and live, and the law needs to catch up. We have already reformed the rules on renting out your unused parking spaces, now we want to do the same regarding renting out your home for a short period.

“It’s time to change the outdated, impractical and restrictive laws from the 1970s, open up London’s homes to visitors and allow Londoners to make some extra cash.”


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