Published: 6:30 a.m. June 25, 2022
Updated: 8:41 AM June 25, 2022
Second-hand homeowners in Suffolk may be barred from renting out properties on websites such as Airbnb under new government plans, they revealed.
Housing Secretary Michael Gove’s proposals will stop second homeowners from renting out properties as holiday rentals as the government seeks to deal with landlords who are raising house prices in tourist hotspots.
In Suffolk, desirable coastal cities such as Southwold and Aldeburgh have a large number of second homes.
Amendments to the equalization and regeneration bill drafted by Mr Gove will empower regional mayors to restrict people who rent out second homes in less than 90 days.
This would mean that landlords would instead have to apply for a planning permission for a change of use.
David Beavon, City Councilor in Southwold, welcomes the news – Credit: SARA LUCY BROWN
David Beaven, a city councilor in Southwold, said he was pleased to hear the news.
“This is what I have been calling for for four years,” he said. “That you should plan to move to a vacation rental from a residential home.
“If it happens, it will be great, because this is the only way to stop the spread of holiday vacations. It’s a little late here, but it will stop getting worse.
“Then we can say ‘we want 50% of the houses in Southwold to actually live’ and that’s not too much to ask for and we can control it through the planning system.
The councils in England will soon be able to levy a double tax on second-hand homeowners on unoccupied property, and Mr Beavan added that he is pushing for the money raised through these changes to go to the Community Land Trust (CLT).
Southwold has a large number of second homes – Credit: Charlotte Bond
“The other thing we really think about is the double tax on second homes,” he said.
“I am preparing a proposal for the next meeting of the Eastern Suffolk Council, in which I say that all the money collected from the additional municipal tax should go to affordable housing in the areas affected by secondary homes.
“I think it’s unfair to tax homeowners who are here for less than 70 days a year to collect bins, transport, roads and police because they don’t use much.
“But it’s fair to tax them to keep the local community alive, and I think most of them would be happy with that.”
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