London homeowners will be allowed to rent out their homes on a short-term basis without applying for planning permissions, under reforms announced yesterday.
The new measures will allow people in the capital to let their properties for up to 90 days through websites such as Gumtree and AirBnB, bringing the capital inline with other towns and cities.
A law dating back to the 1970s previously meant homeowners could be fined up to £20,000 for each unlawful rental if they failed to get permission from their local council.
?'These outdated and needless rules that restricted London homeowners in what they could do with their home have now been swept away,'? said housing minister Brandon Lewis.
'?Londoners should be able to use their homes for short term lets without the bureaucratic headache of getting planning permission from the council ? just like everywhere else in the country.? Councils will be allowed to apply for small localised exemptions from the new flexibility, and the person providing the accommodation must be liable for council tax to qualify.'