Two Cities MP, Nickie Aiken, spoke out on Thursday, 13 April, over proposed changes to short-term lets following her long-running campaign for a short-term lets registration scheme.

In December, Nickie secured the Government's commitment to her registration scheme. Today, 13 April, the Government launched its own consultation on that scheme. Respond to the consultation here.

The Government is also consulting on changes short-term lets, with proposals including the need for planning permission to turn a property into a new short-let. Find out more and respond to the consultation here.

Commenting on the launch of the two Government consultations, Nickie said,

"When I stood for election in 2019, one of my campaign pledges was to persuade the Government to introduce a registration scheme for short-term lets or holiday lets. I know from so many of you that short-term letting is a real problem for you in neighbourhoods across the Two Cities. And too many people abuse the 90-night rule. 

"In London, you can only rent out your home for 90 nights. Too many people ignore that rule. And I know up and down the country now, holiday letting is causing real issues, the same as it is in the Two Cities pushing up rents, causing housing shortages, rental and ownership shortages. 

"So I am delighted that the Government has now listened to the campaign. It accepted my amendment in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to bring in a registration scheme. And today the Government is launching two consultations on short-term lets. One on the registration scheme and the other one about whether there should be planning permission sought for anybody who wants to turn their home into a short-term letting property. 

"So please do take part in the consultation. Have your say. It's so important that we ensure that the Government hears us and puts an end to the blight that can be short-term letting."

Find out more about Nickie's long-running campaign at https://www.nickie.news/ShortLets