At the upcoming council meeting on Thursday, Green councillor Ellen McLeay will propose a motion to address the growing issue of short-term holiday lets in Brighton, which are impacting the local rental and housing markets.
Councillor McLeay’s initiative has garnered support from fellow Green councillor Chloe Goldsmith, who emphasised the urgency of the situation. Goldsmith remarked, “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. The council should begin the initial work now to ensure we are ready to implement these regulations as soon as possible.”
McLeay’s motion calls for a detailed report outlining how the council might use its planning powers to regulate short-term holiday lets. Specifically, she advocates for an Article 4 Direction, which would provide additional planning controls similar to existing measures limiting shared housing in the area.
The proposed report aims to be presented to the council’s cabinet and the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee. It will identify areas in Brighton and Hove that would benefit from stringent regulation and outline enforcement measures for those who bypass necessary permissions for short-term lets.
Additionally, McLeay intends to request that council leader Bella Sankey formally ask the government to empower local councils with the authority to regulate short-term lets and close any existing loopholes. This step is deemed essential to curb the negative impact on the local housing market and rental availability.
Therefore, the proposed regulatory measures, if implemented, promise to be a crucial step towards addressing the housing crisis in Brighton, safeguarding the interests of long-term residents.
