Latest news with #AirbnbBill
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
The ‘Airbnb Bill' targeting second homeowners in this English region
North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire introduced the Short-term Lets (Planning Permission) Bill to parliament on Tuesday, aiming to regulate holiday lets and address council tax avoidance by second homeowners. The proposed ' Airbnb Bill' requires homeowners to obtain planning permission before converting residential properties into short-term holiday lets, closing a loophole that allows them to claim small business status and avoid council tax obligations. To qualify for business rates, a short-term let must be available to rent for at least 140 days and rented for a minimum of 70 days in the prior year. As of October 2023, Cornwall Council reported 13,140 second homes in the county and is now charging an additional 100 per cent council tax premium on second homes. Mr Maguire said the Bill aimed to restore fairness and give locals a better chance at owning homes.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Second homeowners in Cornwall could be hit with ‘Airbnb Bill'
A Cornwall MP has proposed a law change for holiday lets in a crackdown on second homeowners 'dodging council tax '. The 'Short-term Lets (Planning Permission) Bill' was presented to parliament by Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall Ben Maguire on Tuesday (3 June). Under the proposal, coined the 'Airbnb Bill', homeowners would have to acquire formal planning permission before being able to change the status of a residential property to a short-term holiday let. The Bill seeks to close a damaging loophole that allows second homeowners to convert residential properties into short-term holiday lets without planning permission. Currently, homeowners who make their properties available to rent as self-catering accommodation can claim they are a small business, undermining council tax obligations. To qualify for business rates, a short-term let must have been available to rent for at least 140 days in the prior year and must have actually been rented for a minimum of 70 days during that same period. According to Cornwall Council, as of October 2023, there were 13,140 second homes in the county. From 1 April 2025, the council agreed to charge an additional 100 per cent council tax premium on second homes. The proposal follows a meeting between Cornish MPs and Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook earlier this year about the growing housing emergency in Cornwall's constituencies. MP Ben Maguire said in a post on Facebook: 'I have now officially presented my 'AirBnB Bill' to Parliament. It's a simple change with a big impact: requiring planning permission before homes can be turned into short-term holiday lets, to put a stop to the avoidance of paying council tax. 'Enough is enough. Too many local families are being priced out while homes sit empty or churned through weekly rentals. This Bill is about restoring fairness in our system and giving local people a better chance at owning their own home. 'I formally presented the Bill to the House of Commons - on behalf of each and every one of my constituents who is struggling to get onto the housing ladder, and fed up with second home owners dodging council tax.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Airbnb bill' aimed at second home owners
A bill proposing a law change aimed at second home owners looking to "dodge council tax" has been presented to parliament by a North Cornwall MP. Dubbed the "Airbnb Bill", it proposes homeowners be required to seek planning permission before short-term letting their property. Liberal Democrat MP Ben Maguire said it would "close a loophole" which allowed property owners to avoid council tax by reclassifying their second homes as business lets. John Brown, CEO of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said the bill "was not a silver bullet, but a start". Mr Brown added: "It must sit alongside tougher regulation and a robust registration system for short-term lets. "If it deters those looking to extract profit from Cornwall without putting anything back — good. "If it helps restore housing stock for local people, even better. "And if it ensures our hospitality and tourism sectors can find workers with secure housing, then it's a win for all of Cornwall.". Describing a "surplus" of Airbnb homes, he said there were 14,000 second homes in the county, while 22,000 people were on the housing waiting list. The bill follows a campaign led by Mr Maguire, who put the proposal directly to the Housing Minister in order to "deliver deep change for North Cornwall". He added: "The bill is about restoring fairness in our system and giving local people a better chance at owning their own home," he added. In January 2023, Cornwall Council approved plans for owners of second homes in the county to be charged double council tax. In September 2024, Airbnb called for Cornwall Council to be given more data, powers and tools to regulate short-term rentals. The US online rental platform said it had written to local MPs and councillors across Cornwall to inform them of its support for new rules being implemented in the county. Airbnb also said it also supported the introduction of a registration scheme for people who wanted to let their homes to tourists. A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said it would fix the "inherited" housing crisis through its Plan for Change. They said it recognised the "excessive concentrations" of second homes and short-term lets could "price out local people and damage public services". It had scrapped the furnished holiday lets tax regime, it said, and councils now had powers to increase council tax bills of second homes, while it was "committed" to introducing a national mandatory registration scheme for short-term lets. Before a short-term let can be assessed for business rates it must first have been available for short-term letting for at least 140 days in the previous year, and actually let for at least 70 days in the previous year. More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ MP seeks law to regulate Airbnb 'party houses' Plans to use second homes tax on police patrols Demand for second homes has 'fallen off a cliff' Cornwall Chamber of Commerce
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Airbnb bill' aimed at second home owners
A bill proposing a law change aimed at second home owners looking to "dodge council tax" has been presented to parliament by a North Cornwall MP. Dubbed the "Airbnb Bill", it proposes homeowners be required to seek planning permission before short-term letting their property. Liberal Democrat MP Ben Maguire said it would "close a loophole" which allowed property owners to avoid council tax by reclassifying their second homes as business lets. John Brown, CEO of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said the bill "was not a silver bullet, but a start". Mr Brown added: "It must sit alongside tougher regulation and a robust registration system for short-term lets. "If it deters those looking to extract profit from Cornwall without putting anything back — good. "If it helps restore housing stock for local people, even better. "And if it ensures our hospitality and tourism sectors can find workers with secure housing, then it's a win for all of Cornwall.". Describing a "surplus" of Airbnb homes, he said there were 14,000 second homes in the county, while 22,000 people were on the housing waiting list. The bill follows a campaign led by Mr Maguire, who put the proposal directly to the Housing Minister in order to "deliver deep change for North Cornwall". He added: "The bill is about restoring fairness in our system and giving local people a better chance at owning their own home," he added. In January 2023, Cornwall Council approved plans for owners of second homes in the county to be charged double council tax. In September 2024, Airbnb called for Cornwall Council to be given more data, powers and tools to regulate short-term rentals. The US online rental platform said it had written to local MPs and councillors across Cornwall to inform them of its support for new rules being implemented in the county. Airbnb also said it also supported the introduction of a registration scheme for people who wanted to let their homes to tourists. A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said it would fix the "inherited" housing crisis through its Plan for Change. They said it recognised the "excessive concentrations" of second homes and short-term lets could "price out local people and damage public services". It had scrapped the furnished holiday lets tax regime, it said, and councils now had powers to increase council tax bills of second homes, while it was "committed" to introducing a national mandatory registration scheme for short-term lets. Before a short-term let can be assessed for business rates it must first have been available for short-term letting for at least 140 days in the previous year, and actually let for at least 70 days in the previous year. More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ MP seeks law to regulate Airbnb 'party houses' Plans to use second homes tax on police patrols Demand for second homes has 'fallen off a cliff' Cornwall Chamber of Commerce
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
'Airbnb bill' aimed at taxing Cornwall's second homeowners
A bill proposing a law change aimed at second home owners looking to "dodge council tax" has been presented to parliament by a North Cornwall the "Airbnb Bill", it proposes homeowners be required to seek planning permission before short-term letting their Democrat MP Ben Maguire said it would "close a loophole" which allowed property owners to avoid council tax by reclassifying their second homes as business Brown, CEO of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said the bill "was not a silver bullet, but a start". 'Tougher regulation' Mr Brown added: "It must sit alongside tougher regulation and a robust registration system for short-term lets. "If it deters those looking to extract profit from Cornwall without putting anything back — good. "If it helps restore housing stock for local people, even better. "And if it ensures our hospitality and tourism sectors can find workers with secure housing, then it's a win for all of Cornwall.".Describing a "surplus" of Airbnb homes, he said there were 14,000 second homes in the county, while 22,000 people were on the housing waiting list. The bill follows a campaign led by Mr Maguire, who put the proposal directly to the Housing Minister in order to "deliver deep change for North Cornwall".He added: "The bill is about restoring fairness in our system and giving local people a better chance at owning their own home," he added. Double council tax In January 2023, Cornwall Council approved plans for owners of second homes in the county to be charged double council September 2024, Airbnb called for Cornwall Council to be given more data, powers and tools to regulate short-term US online rental platform said it had written to local MPs and councillors across Cornwall to inform them of its support for new rules being implemented in the also said it also supported the introduction of a registration scheme for people who wanted to let their homes to BBC has contacted Airbnb and the The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for comment.
