Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath, has called for the Government to bring forward newly proposed Airbnb regulations as the Renters’ Reform Bill, which the new regulations will be a part of, is only expected to come back to Parliament later in the year. 

The proposed legislation will mean that homeowners who want to list properties on Airbnb or other letting sites will have to enter their address on a register so that councils have a database of short-term lets. This would allow officials to take action if a short-term rental property proved ‘problematic’.

However, the Government has set no firm date for when these proposed changes, as part of the Renters’ Reform Bill, will come into effect, instead saying it will just be at some point this year. Bath’s MP, Wera Hobhouse, is pushing for the changes related to Airbnbs to be fast tracked and brought forward separately to give councils this power urgently.

Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath, commented:

“I have heard from countless constituents deeply frustrated by the noise and disruptions caused by these short-term lets. It is not right that residents have had to put up with this for so long and I welcome the Government’s decision to finally take action on it.

“The pace at which these regulations will be brought in is concerning, however. They are long overdue and the lack of urgency the Government is displaying needs to change.

“Constituents just trying to get on with their lives are having to put up with noise and other disturbances regularly. This should not be allowed to continue for a moment longer. Saying that we will introduce these changes but you will just have to wait is not good enough. 

“The Government needs to stop sitting on its hands, fast track the legislation and put a stop to this cycle of disruption that is impacting so many.”