Leading Labour MP savages landlords over short-term lets ‘explosion’

York’s MP has accused private landlords of turning the city into a short-let hotspot, draining it of people and revenue.

Rachael Maskell says that its 2,132 known short-term holiday lets are having a catastrophic effect on both the residential and student community.

“The average rental price is £945 a month in York, but landlords can make £700 for a weekend in an unregulated market where they are seeing the opportunity to make more money,” she told a Generation Rent podcast.

“We’ve seen a plethora of Section 21 notices issued, people being evicted and fewer rental properties available where we don’t have enough in the first place,” adds Maskell, who says as tenants are evicted, they are leaving the city, taking skills with them.

Luxury

Maskell has previously told the Commons that developers are building luxury accommodation in York, prompting the government to say it has achieved its housing target – but then these properties are simply switched over to Airbnbs.

The MP believes the Levelling up and Regeneration Bill, along with suggestions in the government consultation into the sector – looking at tougher checks and a self-certification scheme for hosts – don’t go far enough.

She says her Short-term and Holiday-let Accommodation (Licensing) Private Members’ Bill – which gets its second reading on 9^th December – is needed as it makes a case for a widespread licensing regime.

This would give councils the power to require licensing for converting properties into short-term lets, issue fines and vary rates of local taxes.

“Local authorities need the right to say no to a licence,” she asserts.