Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to consult local authorities on the re-introduction of a licensing system similar to that operating in London until the Deregulation Act 2015 came into force, to ensure that there is a record of short-term occupants of properties.

We have no plans to do this. Local Authorities already have powers to act where there is a breach of planning control in respect of short term lettings.

Requiring hosts to register with their local authority an intention to let their property on a short term basis would be overly bureaucratic, and would place unnecessary regulatory burdens on households. However, some accommodation providers have already restricted bookings to 90 nights per calendar year in London. We have asked the industry association to encourage their other members to adopt this good practice.