Short-term holiday lets are an important part of the economy of popular tourist destinations, including in our part of Devon. Visitors using these short-term lets help create local jobs whilst supporting our county’s economy, but we also know the number of lets have increased which makes getting on the housing ladder more difficult in certain areas.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to ensure we strike a better balance to help local people rent or buy a home whilst also protecting the hospitality and tourism sector. Part of the solution is to make information about the short-term lets industry more accessible to local authorities, businesses and – most importantly – our communities. I’ve raised this matter in the Houses of Parliament on multiple occasions and I am proud that this government is already taking action, with proposals including a registration scheme for short-term lets that would make data on the sector more accessible.
As Chair of the Hospitality and Tourism All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), I led a discussion session alongside Kate Nicholls OBE of UKHospitality on what this registration scheme should involve. Alongside industry representatives one from East Devon, we discussed the importance of the short-term lets sector but also the need for a system that makes it clear where these short-term lets are, how many there are, and what they’re used for.
By creating this system, it means we can see the impact, improve safety for guests and give the real picture to local people about what's happening with properties in their towns and villages.