Councillor accuses Dorset Council of ‘copping out’ over Airbnb and second homes
A Labour councillor has accused Dorset Council of failing to enforce rules against second homeowners letting their properties as short-term holiday rentals
A Labour councillor has accused Dorset Council of “copping out” of enforcing rules against second homeowners who rent out their properties as short-term holiday lets, warning that local people are being priced out of the housing market.
Speaking at a full council meeting, Cllr Kate Wheller claimed the authority had shied away from tackling homeowners who breach legally binding agreements by letting their properties as Airbnb’s.
Cllr Wheller said the issue was widespread in areas such as Hope Square and Brewery Square, where properties intended as residential homes have been turned into lucrative short-term rentals.
“Why are we not taking enforcement action?” she asked. “I hope the Cabinet member will instruct staff to do so and I hope we can see some action.”
She described the growth of second homes and short-term lets as “a perennial problem”, saying many “take an income from their second homes at a time when many local people are in need of accommodation”.
The councillor argued that powers already exist under the Town and Country Planning Order 1987 to take enforcement action against breaches of use, but claimed the council was choosing not to use them.
Cllr Shane Bartlett, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for planning, rejected the accusation.
He claims action has been taken in several cases, with some owners told to apply for the correct planning permission or stop letting their properties but there is no “one-size-fits-all approach” to this issue.
Bartlett added that the government had proposed creating a new planning use class for short-term lets, but it had not yet been implemented.