York residents fear being priced out of housing market due to rentals
Painter and decorator Andrew Hay is standing on the York street where his grandparents used to live - and where his dad grew up.He said it used to be a busy, lively community - but was now a "ghost town" during the university holidays, when the students renting houses have gone home.Mr Hay said similar streets could be found across the city - with a huge impact on York's housing stock, pushing prices through the roof."This street - and others like it - are being neglected," he said."It's unrecognisable and it's all down to student lets and holiday lets."They've made it pretty much impossible for the next generation - like my children - to buy a house in the area."
Mr Hay said his two sons - both aged in their 20s - both worked in York, but would have to look to the city's outskirts, or further away, to buy homes of their own.He said: "They will have to commute back into York - that's not ideal."They are saving for a property, but when you look around there's nothing in their price range in the York area."Even the surrounding towns - which are a bit cheaper - are getting more expensive because people are being pushed out of York."Asked what the solution was, Mr Hay said he feared it was too late for some streets in York."I don't know how many people would want to, or be able to afford, to buy a house in those areas," he said."It is just too expensive."If nothing is done, in 15 to 20 years' time local people won't be living in York."It will all be tourists and students."
In a joint statement, York St John University and the University of York said students were "our future key workers and professionals," and "contribute hugely to the local economy, workforce and cultural life of our city"."We continue to work with our partners to lobby for better planning that takes student needs into account, reduces pressure on local housing and promotes thriving communities," the statement said.
York Central's Labour MP, Rachael Maskell, has long campaigned on problems linked to the city's housing shortage and the growth of the short-term letting market.Maskell said a house that was turned into a short-term let was no longer available as a family home, and those in the city centre were often used as "party houses".The MP has put a private members' bill before Parliament - it is due back in the House of Commons in the autumn - which would mean a property had to be licensed before it could become a short-term let.Maskell said: "That means the local authority would get money to fund the scheme but real controls would be put in place."Tourism is really important, so much of our economy is built on it, it is important for jobs and for showing our incredible city across the world."So it is hugely important, but we have to hold it in balance."
Airbnb is a major player in York's short-term letting market.Speaking about the issue in Parliament in 2023, Maskell said there were about 2,000 Airbnbs in her constituency.The firm said York's housing pressures were not down to short-term lets, but to the failure to build enough new homes.A spokesperson said listings rented on Airbnb for 90 nights or more in York made up just 0.55% of local housing stock."Many hosts on Airbnb are everyday people renting their place casually to make ends meet, while travel on Airbnb brings £44m to the local economy, supporting nearly 700 jobs and spreading the benefits of tourism to all," they said.
As Mr Hay was speaking, a conference was being held a couple of miles across the city at York St John University.It was being held to look for ways to make tourism more "sustainable," so it benefitted everyone living in a popular tourist spot, and not just people who work in the trade.The event was run by Good Organisation, which has set up a tourism assembly - made up of York residents - to give locals a voice in a £1.7bn industry that brings 9m visitors to the city every year.Natasha Almond, the organisation's director, said: "House prices going up is a huge issue."Lots of people love the city, want to come and have a second home here, they know they can make money out of holiday accommodation."But the situation with Airbnb and house prices has tipped over - and we've seen an increase in homelessness because of that."Ms Almond said one solution suggested by Good Organisation was a "Fair BnB" system - based on the original Airbnb system of renting out a room."People would still be earning money, benefiting from tourism, but not taking the whole house off the market," she said.
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Lloyds, Halifax, NatWest, and Bank of Scotland to shut 113 branches
Lloyds, Halifax, NatWest, and the Bank of Scotland are to shut 113 branches by the end of November. In total, 24 Lloyds, 31 Halifax, 46 NatWest, and four Bank of Scotland sites will close for good between August 20 and November 20. Dates are yet to be confirmed for the closures of a further eight NatWest branches. The Lloyds Banking Group in January cited the closures on customers moving away from banking in person to using mobile services. The move came weeks after the finance firm shook up its business to allow customers of Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to use stores across any of its brands. In the wake of the Horizon IT scandal, the Post Office is also planning to close 115 branches, leaving many communities with nowhere to access their money or discuss financial issues in person. And Jenny Ross, money editor at consumer group Which?, said: 'Schemes introduced by the banking industry to protect these services, such as banking hubs, are a good start in plugging gaps left by closing physical branches, but they must be rolled out much more quickly if consumers are to feel their benefits. 'The government must hold banks' feet to the fire to ensure the commitments they've made to set up 350 hubs by 2029 are met - and should be prepared to review the target upwards if necessary.' While many people now use their bank's app or telephone banking to manage their cash, there remains a large proportion who are unable to do so. According to charity Age UK, only 14 per cent of those aged 85 and above bank online, - with 58 per cent relying on face-to-face banking. The ongoing wave of branch closures has triggered fears that elderly, isolated people risk being hit hardest. Bank bosses have been accused of 'engaging in a race to close branches', which resulted in the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) introducing measures to ensure a 'reasonable provision of cash deposit and withdrawal services' last year. NatWest Group, which comprises NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank, has closed 1,428 branches since January 2015 - the most of any banking group, research by Which? revealed. Lloyds Banking Group was hot on NatWest Group's heels, however, shutting down 1,243 locations over the same period. Which? also reported that Barclays was the individual bank that has most dramatically decreased its branch numbers, with 1,228 branches now closed over the last nine years.
The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
How could stamp duty and council tax be replaced with new ‘property taxes'?
Plans for a new tax on the sale of homes worth over £500,000 are reportedly being considered by the Treasury, potentially marking a major change to the stamp duty and council tax system. Ahead of the autumn Budget, chancellor Rachel Reeves has asked officials to calculate how a new 'proportional' property tax would work in the UK. The overhaul would see a national property tax replace stamp duty on owner-occupied homes, sources told The Guardian. Council tax could also be replaced with a local property tax, helping to boost ailing local authority finances. The plans have reportedly drawn on the findings of a report from centre-right think tank Onward, published in August last year, which lays out criticism of stamp duty and council tax, and steps to replace them. Here's how the plans would change the UK tax landscape: What is stamp duty and how could it change? Under current rules, stamp duty is a levy paid by the buyer of residential property, varying based on the price of the property and whether it is their first purchase. Since April, first-time buyers have had to pay stamp duty when purchasing a home worth up to £300,000 thanks to 'stamp duty relief'. After this they will pay five per cent on the remaining amount, up to £500,000. Anything above this and the relief is voided. For anyone buying a second home, there is no stamp duty paid on the first £125,000, increasing to two per cent up to £250,000, five per cent up to £925,000, ten per cent up to £1.5m, and twelve per cent on everything above that. In 2023/24, the levy brought in £11.6 billion for the government. The speculated change would see this system change, introducing a new tax on the sale of a property when it is worth above £500,000. This levy would be proportionate to the property's value, and paid at a rate set by HMRC. This would be payable by the new owner of the property, only on the amount above £500,000. This would mean the owners of a property worth just over the threshold would pay a 'trivial' amount, Onward's report claims. Could council tax be replaced? Another mulled concept would see council tax replaced with a new local property tax, complimenting the 'national' property tax. It will be a tax on property value paid by the owner, the Onward report explains, and at a rate set by each local authority. This should be levied on values up to a cap of £500,000 in a bid to ensure that richest areas are not able to set far lower rates than those with less valuable properties. This would address a key criticism of the council tax system that how properties are valued is unfair and inaccurate. The 'band' of council tax that all properties pay is based on values last evaluated in 1990s, which have become drastically outdated in many places. The local property tax concept would instead see tax liable on properties based on their value at the last point they were sold, meaning valuation would be regularly updated. However, both of the proposed taxes have been criticised as a tax that will disproportionately hit people living in areas where property prices are higher. The effect would be particularly acute in London says Simon Gerrard, chairman of Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents, who told The Independent that it would amount to a 'London tax'. He said: 'Rightmove's latest figures for August show that the average price of a property in London is now £666,983. Upping taxes for properties over £500K is not making the wealthy pay their fair share, it's a tax on ordinary Londoners.' No final decisions have been made on the plans, and the government has not commented publicly on their veracity.
The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Clubs must wait until October for confirmation of 2026 Super League status
Super League clubs must wait until five days after this season's Grand Final to confirm their status in next season's potentially restructured top flight. The current top 12 clubs voted last month to expand the competition to 14 from 2026, subject to enough applicants meeting tight financial and sustainability criteria. The top 12 will still be determined by existing IMG grading scores, with the possible additional clubs picked by a seven-strong panel of experts. Clubs – including those who face the prospect of dropping out of the existing top 12 in the IMG table – must express their intention to apply by next Wednesday, with the composition of next season's Super League announced on October 16. Crisis-hit Salford, who are battling to complete their season after forfeiting last week's game against Wakefield, are expected to drop out of contention, effectively leaving three top-flight places up for grabs. The PA news agency understands that Bradford Bulls, who last played in Super League in 2014, are in pole position to replace Salford in the 12th spot, leaving Toulouse, York and London as front-runners for the remaining places. The panel, which will consider criteria additional to those already set out by IMG, specifically relating to financial status and sustainability going forward, will be chaired by RFL non-executive director Lord Caine. Caine said: 'I am honoured to have been asked to chair the panel to determine whether the Betfred Super League expands from 12 to 14 in 2026 and, if so, which clubs will take up the 13th and 14th positions in the competition. 'This panel consists of individuals with the considerable knowledge and expertise necessary to ensure that the process is both thorough and robust. 'All of our proceedings will be conducted on the basis of absolute fairness, rigorous impartiality between the applicants, total independence and, of necessity, complete confidentiality.' The seven-strong panel will also include two fellow non-executive RFL directors Abi Ekoku and Dermot Power, RFL chief executive Tony Sutton, interim head of legal Graeme Sarjeant, RL Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones and Super League (Europe) board member Peter Hutton. The composition of next season's Championship and League One competitions – which are expected to merge – is set to be confirmed later this week.
