The government is contemplating whether to change the law about short lets and could remove the requirement of gaining planning consent, before renting out any residential property for less than ninety days.

A London estate agent has major concerns about the knock on effect if this change goes ahead as he feels that it will not properly take into account London's needs. He does however feel that it could be a positive initiative across other areas of the country. 

Martin Bikhit of the central London agency said:“It will cause a severe lack of longer term permanent residential accommodation.  The number of people prepared to pay very high rents for short term lets will tend to push out would-be long term tenants and owner occupiers. 

 

"Permitting short term rents will effectively blight properties, turning blocks into badly managed hotels and resulting in long term residents having to put up with anti-social noise, lack of security and loss of neighbourliness” he says.

 

He also fears that the change in law could lead to an increase in fly tipping, housing benefit con people, prostitutes and organised crime.

Westminster council has voiced its concerns by telling the government that they wish to keep control of the local planning. It also agrees with some of Bikhit's views that short term lettings will have a major impact on London's estates, flats and apartment blocks, although it did concede that outside the capital it may prove to be beneficial.