Short-Term Holiday Lets

Lord Fowler Excerpts

Monday 8th December 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

First, I am surprised by the noble Lord’s suggestion that there was no consultation, as I am sure he is aware that there was a consultation conducted in February 2014. There were 97 responses to the question on short-term letting in London. Fifteen local authorities responded: eight were strongly against; six were not opposed to review; and, indeed, one was actually supportive of it. Secondly, the noble Lord has been involved in various bilateral meetings on the subject and he knows full well the Government’s intentions in deregulating in this particular sector.

[Lord Fowler (Con)]

Could my noble friend remind us how long the consultation period was?

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

I will need to write to the noble Lord on that. The consultation got more than 70 responses. As I said, the important bodies, to which I draw my noble friend’s attention, were the local authorities that responded to the consultation.