John-Mark McCafferty

Good morning, David.

No, and it's worrying, you know, because at a time of deep and worsening housing shortage, too many homes that could be used for long-term renting are instead being used as short-term tourist lets.

And...

You know, this planning and this kind of oversight, this has been in the pipeline for a very long time.

And the planning statement ideally should have been done by now.

to oversee and provide a structure for these laws.

But we don't agree with the assertion that operatives are now being retrospectively required to get planning permission, because I think, as was mentioned there, you've got the Residential Tenancies Act 2019, amendments to the Planning and Development Act 2019 also.

That was seven years ago.

So a lot of the special interest groups representing the short-term lets

We should have informed our clients that planning permission was required.

And then we have the short-term letting and tourism bill in 2023.

Now, OK, it's not enacted, but it should have also encouraged groups to realise that the planning would be needed.

And I guess the reality now, you've got the EU regulation passed in May 2024, two years ago.

That did effectively give notice.

to both the state and to special interest groups that this legislation would be applicable from two weeks from now.

Well, that lack of urgency is at government hands.

And indeed, if you look at, you know, since 2019 right through to last year, local authorities received just 426 planning applications for change of use.

And that shows a lack of policing and enforcement at local authority level.

And

a delay by government.