The Devon Housing Commission, of which Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon, is a Commissioner, have written to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for the Department Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Lucy Frazer, Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. The Commission is concerned about the rise of short term lettings and the loss of long term private lettings for local families.
The Commission wrote to the Secretaries of State following a visit to North Devon with Selaine Saxby MP to view sites around Ilfracombe and Woolacombe. They have shared their concern about the number of properties in the county being switched from long term to short term lettings, and to share their understanding that this is the reason for a drop of 50% in private lettings across Devon and 67% in North Devon (2019 – 2021).
The Commission has written in support of two Government consultations established in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, passed by the Government last year. The first is the registration of short term lets, which will give local authorities the data on the number of short term lets in the area. The second is the consultation on introducing the requirement for a change of use planning consent for any new short-term letting: this would enable each local authority to determine how many more holiday lettings of this kind should be created in their area.
Alongside welcoming provisions in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act to give local authorities the power to increase council tax on second homes by 100%, the Commission also calls on Government to reform existing tax imbalances. Selaine Saxby MP has been working with the Government to highlight how these tax imbalances favour the conversion of long term lets to short term lets.
Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon said:
“As the only Member of Parliament on the Devon Housing Commission I continue to support the work of the Commission as we all work to balance the housing market in North Devon and across the wider county. I am delighted that following their recent visit to Ilfracombe and Woolacombe the Commission has written to the Secretaries of State in support of the Government consultations to give local authorities more power over the number of short term lets in our local communities.
“I will continue to work with the Commission and in Westminster to ensure that there is affordable housing in North Devon is for local people, whilst continuing to have a thriving tourist economy.
