Calls for action against short-term holiday lets

Councillor Ellen McLeay plans to propose a motion at a council meeting

A Green councillor in Brighton is calling for action to tackle short-term holiday lets and their impact on the local rental and housing markets.

Ellen McLeay plans to propose a motion on the subject at a Brighton & Hove City Council meeting on Thursday.

The motion is due to be seconded by fellow Green councillor Chloe Goldsmith.

Ms Goldsmith said: "I understand that this is just one of many problems with the housing market in our city, but it’s one which we need to tackle as soon as possible."

She added: "The council should begin the initial work now to ensure we are ready to implement these regulations as soon as possible.”

Ms McLeay is calling for a report on how the council can use its planning powers to control short-term holiday lets.

She also wants the council to use an Article 4 Direction, which provides additional planning control, as it has done to limit the spread of shared houses in the area.

The Green councillor is pushing for a report to the council’s cabinet and its Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee to identify suitable areas of Brighton and Hove for the stricter regime, with details about enforcements if people do not seek the necessary permissions for short-term lets.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service says Ms McLeay is planning to ask council leader Bella Sankey to write to the government asking for councils to have the power to regulate short-term lets and ensure any loopholes are closed.