Brighton & Hove Council is to ask the government if it can start licensing short-term lets in a bid to combat their impact on local communities.

The authority also hopes to introduce an Article 4 direction similar to one proposed in Wales after a council meeting heard that entire streets in the city had been given over to holiday homes. Councillors spoke of “ghost neighbourhoods” and affordable housing becoming increasingly sparse.

Green councillor Ellen McLeay (pictured) told a meeting that residents were witnessing the impact of unregulated growth on their communities.

“There are fewer kids living in the area which is contributing to class number declines within inner city schools,” she said. “Councils need to be given the tools to bring them under control and to benefit our community.”

Voluntary

Labour councillor Gill Williams, cabinet member for housing and new homes, has previously tried to push for a voluntary registration scheme. She agreed that unregulated short-term lets were having a “hugely devastating impact” and pointed to a new report that revealed 6,848 properties were registered in the city over the course of the year, with 4,964 currently active, and 78% of those being entire homes.

“I would like devolved powers for local authorities like us to introduce a licensing scheme which would help us regulate this area,” said Williams

Topsy turvy

“We’re in a topsy-turvy world. There are many hotels and guest houses that are used for emergency accommodation because we don’t have any homes for them. Why don’t we put our residents in the homes and use our hotels for tourism?”

Conservative councillor Anne Meadows (pictured) said too many holiday lets were linked to noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour. She added: “To have a register of those properties would be appropriate so we know where the majority are, although I suspect we already know that from the complaints.”