Local Support for Plan to Tackle Short Term Holiday Let Conversions

A Government proposal that could give planning committees greater control over holiday let conversions has received cross-party support in Scarborough and Whitby.

Local politicians have welcomed the launch of a Government consultation on granting local authorities the power to control the number of short-term holiday lets “and support the retention of existing properties to buy or to rent”.

There are more than 8,000 second homes in North Yorkshire, the highest number in the region, many of which are located on the coast, including in Whitby and Scarborough where many locals have stated that the lack of affordable housing is a pressing issue.

The consultation and proposed plan for increased powers have received tentative support from different political parties in Scarborough and Whitby, including Conservative, Labour, and Independent politicians.

Cllr Janet Jefferson, a North Yorkshire Independent representing the Castle division, said:

“I’m pleased that the Government is taking these steps and listening to residents.”

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), she said:

“If you look at electoral rolls, the number of permanent residents is reducing dramatically.

“It is happening throughout Scarborough, especially town centre streets.

“So many have been converted and people have been given section 21 [eviction] notices after many years and they are struggling to find alternative accommodation.”

Cllr Jefferson added:

“We need to strike a balance between residents and visitors, though I’m not talking about hotels and guest houses because there is already a system in place for them.”

In November 2022 a plan for the introduction of a 100 per cent council tax premium on second homes in North Yorkshire was approved in an effort to tackle the affordable homes crisis affecting the county.

Last year it was also revealed that private landlords in the borough of Scarborough have been “evicting tenants in order to convert [properties] into Airbnbs and holiday lets.”

The Government’s consultation has also been welcomed by Alison Hume, the Labour Party’s parliamentary candidate for Scarborough and Whitby who said:

“Whilst I welcome the two consultations, the devil will be in the detail, and it remains to be seen how serious the government will be in the face of lobbying from big businesses such as Airbnb.”

She told the LDRS:

“The Conservatives are overseeing an unprecedented housing crisis of their making and nowhere is this more obvious than in holiday hotspots like Scarborough and Whitby where local people are unable to find affordable homes to rent

“Labour has once again led on this issue with Rachael Maskell MP introducing a private members bill calling for tighter regulation of short-term holiday lets.”

The Labour candidate added:

“With the current housing shortage in Scarborough and Whitby no-one should be using a house as an investment tool without a licence.

“Whitby has become hollowed out as a result of government inaction over the last thirteen years.”

Cllr Phil Trumper, a Conservative representing the Whitby West division, has also welcomed the consultation.

He told the LDRS.

“It is good that the Government will be handing over these powers so decisions can be made locally,”

Cllr Trumper said it was “positive” that decisions on short-term holiday lets could be made locally “because planning committees know what the local issues are and they will be able to determine if a conversion is positive or negative”.

He added: “Giving more powers locally to make the decisions locally is what people want.”

The consultation states that the Government is likely to implement a degree of flexibility of 30 to 90 where homeowners could let their properties “to help boost income” without requiring a licence.

The plan would not affect not affect hotels, hostels or B&Bs.

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