The survey found a boom in rental properties being used for short-term lets, driven by an increase in domestic holidays and increased regulations on long-term landlords. In tourist areas this is straining local councils, causing housing shortages and taking vital workers away from areas where they are needed, leading MPs and councils to consider measures to crack down. A report by Scarborough Council found that the number of private rented properties in the town center had fallen from an average of 25 homes available at any one time in 2017 to six in 2022. The number of rented homes has increased dramatically over the same period. The report said: “The council relies on the use of the private hired sector to meet demand [for housing]However, officers report a significant drop in the availability of private rented accommodation in the borough. “We have also seen examples of private landlords evicting tenants to convert [their properties] on Airbnb and vacations.” This is not unique to beauty spots, with the number of Airbnb listings in London more than quadrupling between 2015 and 2019, in a city with a shortage of long-term rental rooms, according to earlier research by the Greater London Authority. A private member’s bill tabled last week by Rachael Maskell, the York central Labor MP, aimed to implement a license to convert residential properties into short-term and holiday rental accommodation, give local authorities the power to impose fines and withdraw licenses and seek to impose bans on such properties in certain areas. Last month, the government launched a consultation on how to balance the need for tourist accommodation with housing for local people. The deadline for responses is September 21. In the meantime, councils are coming up with their own solutions. North Yorkshire County Council is considering proposals to introduce a 100% council tax premium on second homes, while new rules will come into force next year in Wales requiring second home owners to pay 300% council tax. Landlords said it wasn’t just money, but experiences with bad tenants and a lack of flexibility in long-term leases that drove them to platforms like Airbnb. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST A landlord who got a court order to evict a tenant who hadn’t paid rent for 14 months told the Guardian she will eventually convert her other long-term rentals to Airbnbs. He has four apartments in Scarborough rented out through Airbnb and another two are long-term private rentals. He said: “I have only kept these houses on safe rent because I can trust them and families would spend an incredible amount of time finding alternative accommodation, which is hugely important in this tourist area. “When the houses are empty I will use them for holiday accommodation if possible. I won’t risk different new full-time tenants.” She said being able to claim expenses, including mortgage interest, set-up costs and running costs, made it more lucrative for her pension pot. “But mostly I don’t have to worry about bad tenants, anti-social tenants and non-paying tenants, which it takes forever to get rid of. “I accept that tenants need protection from bad landlords, but good landlords get punished along the way.”
