Over 25% of Camden rentals are now short-term lets. The council appeals for stronger regulations in London.
Camden Council recently won an appeal. It concerned unauthorized short-term rentals. These rentals were flats in Kilburn. The owners of Belsize Road flats made an appeal against a planning enforcement notice as the council issued this because they misused them.
The owners claimed they used flats as homes, with rentals allegedly not exceeding 90 days per year. However, the flats were on several websites, including Booking.com, Expedia, Siyu.co.uk, and others.
The planning inspector agreed with Camden Council, stating the properties functioned as serviced apartments for short-term rentals. The inspector noted unusual features there, not typical for normal flats, pointing to short-term rentals.
The rentals used key cards like hotels, controlling doors, lighting, and granting building access. The apartments lacked both post boxes and doorbells, absent on both doors and the building’s entrance. The inspector noticed a lack of personal items, stating, “I have not seen much personal stuff,” inside the units.
Councillor Adam Harrison, in charge of planning in Camden, said this sends landlords a message, wanting sustainable choices. He added that housing is scarce, and the council acts to fix the affordable housing problem.
He said that booking platforms have grown and short-term lets became popular for landlords. This offers private landlords more money now. Councillor Richard Olszewski wants real rules, as London needs stronger rules for short-term lets, and he leads Camden Council.
This prevents housing loss for Londoners and will give councils confidence to invest. They can directly provide social housing, also making tourism more sustainable. Savills found many short-term rentals in London, with one in 32 homes serving as rentals. Westminster had the most listed properties.