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2012 Olympic short term landlords 'could face fines' | 2012 Olympic short term landlords 'could face fines' |
(about 6 hours later) | |
By Guy Lynn BBC News | By Guy Lynn BBC News |
Londoners hoping to rent out their homes during the Olympics are being warned they could be breaking the law and left facing a fine. | Londoners hoping to rent out their homes during the Olympics are being warned they could be breaking the law and left facing a fine. |
BBC London has uncovered stark variations in councils' positions on the practice. | BBC London has uncovered stark variations in councils' positions on the practice. |
Some have warned they will crack down on people renting out properties - but others have said it is not a problem. | Some have warned they will crack down on people renting out properties - but others have said it is not a problem. |
The National Association of Estate Agents is calling for a review of the law on short term lettings. | The National Association of Estate Agents is calling for a review of the law on short term lettings. |
But at the moment Londoners face a postcode lottery as to whether they can rent out their homes for the games. | But at the moment Londoners face a postcode lottery as to whether they can rent out their homes for the games. |
Juzar Jeevanjee lives in Haringey, one of the areas where the council has said it will not crack down on people letting out their homes. | Juzar Jeevanjee lives in Haringey, one of the areas where the council has said it will not crack down on people letting out their homes. |
'Happy times' | 'Happy times' |
He said: "Obviously there's a huge opportunity for earning extra money here with lots coming in for the Olympics who can't afford hotels. | He said: "Obviously there's a huge opportunity for earning extra money here with lots coming in for the Olympics who can't afford hotels. |
"From what agents have told me, I could double or triple what I could get at the moment, so it could be happy times." | "From what agents have told me, I could double or triple what I could get at the moment, so it could be happy times." |
But Juliet Rowe, who lives in Westminster, would be in a very different situation if she wanted to rent out her apartment for a short period. | But Juliet Rowe, who lives in Westminster, would be in a very different situation if she wanted to rent out her apartment for a short period. |
Westminster effectively bans short term lets of 90 days or under unless planning permission is obtained - but this is rarely given. | Westminster effectively bans short term lets of 90 days or under unless planning permission is obtained - but this is rarely given. |
If she were to rent out her home anyway during the games, she could face a fine of £20,000 and even a criminal record. | If she were to rent out her home anyway during the games, she could face a fine of £20,000 and even a criminal record. |
Ms Rowe does not plan to do this - but said it was enormously disappointing. | Ms Rowe does not plan to do this - but said it was enormously disappointing. |
She said: "It seems everything you try to do in this city you get told off. | She said: "It seems everything you try to do in this city you get told off. |
"It's so expensive to live here - and it would be nice to make some extra cash. | "It's so expensive to live here - and it would be nice to make some extra cash. |
"It's beyond frustrating." | "It's beyond frustrating." |
Westminster Council told BBC London it was important to preserve the rental market for longer term residents. | Westminster Council told BBC London it was important to preserve the rental market for longer term residents. |
'No level playing field' | 'No level playing field' |
It said numerous complaints had been received by residents complaining about noise and disruption in mansion blocks caused by short-term residents. | It said numerous complaints had been received by residents complaining about noise and disruption in mansion blocks caused by short-term residents. |
Rosemarie MacQueen, Westminster Council's head of city planning development and design, said: "In Westminster, we have a population of 250,000 and that has to grow with targets from the mayor and ourselves. "If we have short term lets, we'll never increase our long term residential population. | |
"Secondly, residents who live in blocks of flats with short term lets actually feel their quality of life has gone down." | "Secondly, residents who live in blocks of flats with short term lets actually feel their quality of life has gone down." |
She continued: "There's a fear of crime, they don't know the faces of the people who are coming in and a lot of short term residents don't treat the place like home. | She continued: "There's a fear of crime, they don't know the faces of the people who are coming in and a lot of short term residents don't treat the place like home. |
"They leave litter in the corridors, come and go and have parties." | "They leave litter in the corridors, come and go and have parties." |
BBC London asked every council in the capital for details of what its policies were concerning short term lets. | BBC London asked every council in the capital for details of what its policies were concerning short term lets. |
Some 27 London boroughs said they had no problem with properties being let for short periods and this did not require any planning permission. | Some 27 London boroughs said they had no problem with properties being let for short periods and this did not require any planning permission. |
But Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Camden warned people who let properties for short periods without planning permission could be served with enforcement notices. | But Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Camden warned people who let properties for short periods without planning permission could be served with enforcement notices. |
In some cases they could receive fines of up to £20,000 if they were deemed to be repeat offenders. | In some cases they could receive fines of up to £20,000 if they were deemed to be repeat offenders. |
Chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, Peter Bolton King, said: "The problem here is a lack of a level playing field which means regulations are not being policed in the same way across London. | Chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, Peter Bolton King, said: "The problem here is a lack of a level playing field which means regulations are not being policed in the same way across London. |
"I think it's time for a review and to look at whether this is working or not." | "I think it's time for a review and to look at whether this is working or not." |