Campaign: Short-term lettings data
We’re pleased to see the Government has committed to developing a short-term lets register in England. This will go some way to tackling the paucity of data that authorities have on the quantity, location and safety of Airbnb-style accommodation in their area.
A register, however, will only take the Government so far. Alongside the register, we’re calling for a mandatory data sharing requirement on platforms to pass on their lettings data to authorities - bringing our regulatory approach up to speed with Europe and elsewhere.
For our full set of recommendations, you can read our response to DCMS’ consultation here.
What’s the problem?
Currently, if you let out a property on Airbnb you don’t have to register it or have any safety information checked.
And with the rapid expansion of holiday lets across the UK, stakeholders are concerned the effects on local housing supply, affordability and the safety standards of properties on the market.
Public authorities have struggled to formulate or enforce policies to regulate the sector. A big reason for this is the lack of official data - we don’t know where these properties are, who owns them, or whether they adhere to health and safety regulations.
The opportunity
In April 2023, DCMS opened its consultation on a short-term lets register - which we responded to. Like many other housing campaigners, we’re supportive of a register as it would provide policymakers with a stronger evidence base to work with and lay out the technical infrastructure needed for further regulation down the line.
But a register alone won’t provide authorities with the data it needs. Complimentary policies are needed to maximise the value of a register. In particular, we think DCMS should be considering the following:
A data sharing requirement for platforms - if public authorties have access to disaggregated and up-to-date lettings data, this will transform their ability to crack down on illegal listings, monitor tourism flows and design better policy. The EU is currently finalising its proposals for this type of data requirement, finding that registration schemes alone were ineffective without authorities being able to access real-time data.
Responsibilities and penalties for platforms - DCMS’ consultation addresses penalties on hosts for not meeting registration requirements, rather than placing any responsibility on platforms to ensure such hosts cannot advertise on their site. We suggest that platforms should only allow a listing to go live if a valid registration number is uploaded, with penalties for both owner and platform if they don’t do this.
Considering the broader value of data from the register - the Government should think creatively about how data from a registration scheme could be used. For example, we suggest that National Insurance numbers should be collected and stored internally, to help HMRC tackle the reported poor tax compliance within the sector.
Publications
Written evidence: A register of short-term lets
June 2023
We wrote evidence on DCMS’s consultation on a register of short-term lets in England.
We argued that the register should be compulsory and national, should include real lettings data, and should include company and NI numbers, to help local authorities enforce rules.
Written evidence: Analysis of AirBNB data
September 2022
We responded to DCMS’s call for evidence about developing tourist accommodation schemes. This response analyses UK AirBNB listings data from 2016-2022, using data from Inside AirBNB, and finds a sharp rise in listings in rural areas.
We also recommend that a registration scheme should be accompanied by data disclosure requirements for platforms.
What needs to happen now
Without complimentary measures, we’re concerned the value of the short-term lets register will be undermined. We’ll be making the case to DCMS, alongside other campaigners, on the need for a data sharing requirement and much more.
If you want to support our work on this campaign, please get in touch at contact@centreforpublicdata.org.