Second homeowners could require planning permission if they want to use their property as a holiday let in a tourist hotspot in England, under new government proposals intended to prioritise ‘desperate’ local families looking for a home.

A consultation was launched on the plan on 12 April, along with the suggestion of a registration scheme for holiday lets to gather data and increase understanding of the impact of short-term accommodation on communities.

The government stated: ‘The guest accommodation sector has changed significantly over the last 15 years, both within England and across the world. In particular, there has been a major expansion in the number and range of accommodation suppliers operating in the market. At the heart of this change has been the emergence of the sharing economy and the growth of digital platforms. These platforms have significantly changed the shape and size of the guest accommodation sector, and in particular have led to an increase in the short-term letting of residential premises.

‘The government is clear that short-term lets bring a range of benefits, such as income for individual homeowners and to local economies through increased visitor spend, and increased choice for consumers. At the same time, there are concerns about inconsistencies within the regulatory framework for the guest accommodation sector: unlike with hotels and B&Bs, it is difficult to monitor compliance with key health and safety regulations by short-term lets given the lack of an authoritative data source.

‘Concerns have also been raised in areas with a high concentration of short-term lets about the impact on the availability and affordability of local rental housing and increased house prices driven by additional demand from owners of short-term lets.