Government launches review into short term tourist accommodation

A review into the effect of short term holiday lets will seek to improve the holiday letting market for those living in popular tourism destinations. The scheme, proposed in a new Government review looking at the impact of increases in short-term and holiday lets in England, could involve physical checks of premises to ensure regulations in areas including:- health and safety, noise and anti social behaviour are obeyed.

Further measures the Government is considering include:- a registration:- 'kitemark' scheme with spot checks for compliance with rules on issues such as gas safety, a self certification scheme for hosts to register with before they can operate, and better information or a single source of guidance setting out the legal requirements for providers.

Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston said:- "We've seen huge growth in the range of holiday accommodation available over the last few years. We want to reap the benefits of the boom in short term holiday lets while protecting community interests and making sure England has high quality tourist accommodation. While no decisions have been taken, this review will help us work out the options to look at so we can protect our much loved communities and thriving holiday industry."

Housing Minister, Rt. Hon Stuart Andrew, said:- "Holiday let sites like Airbnb have helped boost tourism across the country, but we need to make sure this doesn't drive residents out of their communities. We are already taking action to tackle the issue of second and empty homes in some areas by empowering Councils to charge up to double the rate of Council Tax. This review will give us a better understanding of how short term lets are affecting housing supply locally to make sure the tourism sector works for both residents and visitors alike."

Airbnb listing data showed a 33% increase in UK listings between 2017 and 2018 and the rise in the use of online platforms for short-term letting has brought many benefits - from an increase in the variety and availability of options to allowing people to make money from renting out spare rooms and properties.

72% of people told Airbnb in its green tourism report that the environmental benefits of home sharing played a role in their choice to travel using that platform. A separate report by the firm in 2018 said a typical UK host on their platform earns an average of £3,100 a year. But the Government understands there can be an impact on housing supply and price in these areas and there are fears caused by evidence of a rise in anti social behaviour including:- noise, waste and drunken behaviour in local communities. Lower protections for guests caused by negligence of health and safety regulations are also amidst concerns.

The review will also consider the operation of the provisions in London under the Deregulation Act 2015 to allow for measures to be taken against anti social behaviour, whilst allowing Londoners to rent out their homes.

The devolved administrations have taken steps in this area. The Scottish Government set out legislation requiring all Local Authorities in the country to establish a licensing scheme by October 2022. In Northern Ireland tourist accommodation cannot be provided without a valid certificate issued by the national tourist board. Wales has publicly stated its ambition to establish a statutory registration or licensing scheme. And in other countries, anyone wishing to advertise and provide guest accommodation in Portugal must register electronically before doing so, Greece requires anyone renting out their home to paying guests to register, and, in parts of Ireland designated:- 'Rent Pressure Zones,' hosts are only allowed to short-term let their primary residence after having registered.

David Weston, Chairman of the Bed & Breakfast Association, said:- "We are pleased that the Government is launching this call for evidence. It is the right time to consider how we protect all consumers, regardless of an accommodation owner's business model, and level the playing field between traditional business and those on newer platforms. The call for evidence will help the Government strike the right balance between achieving those aims, yet avoiding imposing disproportionate new burdens or costs on small businesses. We will be playing a constructive role in helping the Government develop a proportionate solution, and we call on all tourism accommodation owners to take part in the call for evidence, and ensure your views are heard."

Merilee Karr, Chairperson, Short Term Accommodation Association, and Founder and CEO, Under The Doormat said:- "The STAA is pleased to be able to contribute to the call for evidence on short-term lets and holiday accommodation in England, announced today by DCMS. Short term and holiday rentals play an increasingly important role in the English tourism economy by contributing significant numbers of jobs in local communities and generating valuable sources of income for local homeowners and businesses. Any new regulatory solution should recognise this contribution and seek to support the industry as an important part of the wider UK tourism sector. As an industry we look forward to working with DCMS to ensure that a simple, cost-effective regulatory solution is found, which takes into account the needs and benefits to communities, and supports owners to rent out properties that would otherwise sit empty. We are glad to hear that the UK Government is committed to a solution which gets the balance right, and we look forward to sharing our insights and thoughts on practical solutions with policymakers."

The commitment to consult on tourist accommodation was 1st made in the Government's Tourism Recovery Plan published in June 2021.  We have already taken action to give communities greater ability to manage the impact that 2nd homes can have in some locations. These include:- closing tax loopholes, introducing higher stamp duty and permitting Councils to apply higher Council Tax on 2nd homes. This call for evidence will allow the Government to gather the evidence and data to inform any future steps and it wants to hear the views of all parties, including:- hosts, online platforms, accommodation businesses and Local Authorities.

7 in 10 Councillors have experienced abuse and intimidation in the last year - LGA survey

7 in 10 Councillors reported experiencing abuse and intimidation within the last 12 months, with 1 in 10 experiencing abuse frequently, a new Local Government Association (LGA) Councillor Census has just revealed.  Responses to the Local Government Association's call for evidence of abuse and intimidation have also indicated that many Councillors believe abuse is becoming more common, with the majority who experience abuse and intimidation, experiencing it multiple times and half experiencing it on an ongoing basis. The LGA said Councils are calling for Government to work with Local Authorities and partners to urgently address toxic discourse and abuse against Councillors or risk long term impacts on local democracy and representation.

At its annual conference in Harrogate, the LGA is publishing a new report:- 'Debate Not Hate: the impact of abuse on local democracy,' which highlights how Councillors are facing increasing abuse and intimidation from the public, with little power to deter perpetrators or support to tackle the issue.

This is leading to the expectation that Councillors must tolerate high levels of sometimes extreme abuse and threats, discouraging prospective candidates from engaging with local politics.

According to the findings set out in the report of the LGA's call for evidence of abuse and intimidation launched last October:-

►  88% of Councillors who responded to the LGA's call for evidence survey said they had experienced abuse or intimidation directed at them personally in relation to their role as a Councillor or candidate;

►  76% said they had witnessed such abuse. Social media was the most common place for abuse to take place, but 66% had experienced abuse in person, with many describing use of threatening and discriminatory language and physical abuse such as spitting.

The vulnerability of elected representatives has been at the forefront of the political sphere in recent years with high profile incidents like the murders of Jo Cox MP and Sir David Amess MP and 72% of respondents stated they had taken some action to avoid intimidation and abuse, such as moderating planned and unplanned engagement with the public, never working alone, and installing home security equipment.

Anecdotally, the call for evidence found that some Councillors were receiving targeted and personalised abuse due to their protected characteristic. In particular, there is a perception that women, ethnic minorities and LGBTQIA+ Councillors will experience higher volumes of threatening and discriminatory abuse, reflecting a 2020 study of the 2019 UK general election which found that women received more sexist abuse whereas men received more general and political abuse.

Diverse local representation is the cornerstone of local democracy and Councils strive to encourage new people from all backgrounds to stand in local elections. However, 60% of respondents stated they knew others who were unwilling to run for election or take on leadership roles due to anticipated abuse.

Elected by their communities, Councillors work hard to engage with and champion the needs of their communities in their decision making. Debate and disagreements are a healthy part of this democratic process and appropriate challenge is vital to hold elected members to account.

However, intimidation, threats and personalised abuse crosses the line into unacceptable behaviour and there is growing evidence that this is happening all too often.

The LGA said this is having a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of local Councillors and their families, from their mental health to feelings of safety, with some reporting seeking medical advice for depression, anxiety and others unable to leave their homes at all or unaccompanied for fear of an incident.

The support available to protect the safety and wellbeing of Councillors is limited and inconsistent across the sector and can be uncoordinated between agencies. Some respondents shared examples of little action being taken against perpetrators of abuse, leading to a normalisation and acceptance of abuse by Councillors, staff and Police.

Councillors also reported that they felt more vulnerable because they are often encouraged to publish their home addresses and may even be required to do so as part of declaring their financial interests.

As a result, the LGA is calling for Government to prioritise a change in legislation to put it beyond doubt that Councillors can proactively withhold their home address from the public register. This would reflect changes in 2018 to allow candidates running in local elections to choose whether to publish their home addresses on ballot papers.

The LGA is urging local Government leaders, the Government, partners, political parties and social media companies to sign up to a public statement, pledging to come together to develop and implement an action plan to address the issue of abuse of local politicians and their safety.

Cllr James Jamieson, LGA Chairman, said:- "Councillors are as much a part of the community as those they represent, and they should not expect to be subjected to any form of abuse because of their position. Debating and disagreeing with 1 another is an essential part of democracy, however abuse has no place in politics and stops residents from engaging in local Government and Councillors from reaching their full potential in the role. Council Officers, including:- some frontline staff, are also reporting higher levels of abuse which is completely unacceptable. We need to see concrete action to protect current Councillors and ensure potential future Councillors feel safe to stand for election. Anyone, regardless of their background or political affiliation, should feel safe and proud to represent their community."

Marc Jones, Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), said:- "We know that abuse and intimidation is a problem experienced by many elected PCCs in England and Wales and we have been working alongside the Local Government Association to raise awareness of this. Being subject to this sort of behaviour is completely unacceptable and should never be viewed as:- 'just part of the role' as elective representatives. We welcome this survey, the evidence from which, will be invaluable in enabling us to grasp the full extent of the problem. By sparking a national conversation, we can bring about positive change and ensure no public official feels unsafe representing the communities in which they serve."

Jennifer Nadel, Co-Director of Compassion in Politics, said:- "Urgent action is needed to build a compassionate, inclusive, and cooperative political culture in Britain. These significant findings from the LGA reflect the conditions we find in national politics where abuse is habitual and conflict endemic. This is not only intolerable for our political representatives, it means the decisions that affect us all are being made in the worst possible conditions. As well as endorsing the changes rightly recommended by the LGA we would also like to see significant reforms to politics at every level so that we can build a system which promotes compassion and cooperation over excess conflict and competition. That means offering quality care and training to elected officials and staff so debates and decisions are made in a supportive environment. It means engaging and empowering underrepresented groups to stand for election, so our politics builds from diversity of thought. And it means creating new avenues through which the public can engage with the job of politics, bridging the chasm that is emerging between "us" and "them."

John Austin, Chair of the Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO) said:- "ADSO stands shoulder to shoulder with the LGA on this issue and we thank them for their valuable work. Councillors are the lifeblood of our local democracy, and they must be protected. The findings of the LGA census are truly shocking and the situation has to be addressed by all stakeholders. We will do everything we can to support the LGA and others in this important work."