A new map reveals how a staycation boom since the pandemic has seen the number of short-term holiday lets swell in some of England’s most popular tourist hotspots.
Coronavirus and subsequent travel restrictions for foreign trips led to a spike in demand for breaks closer to home – with new data now confirming the enormous growth the UK holiday rental market has endured in just three years.
Kent is among the places to have witnessed a surge in the number of rented holiday lets available in the county – with a leap of 22% between 2019 and 2022.
According to the data, which has been compiled by the short-term rental analysis firm AirDNA, Blackpool, Lincoln, the Peak District and Dorset are also among the areas to have experienced some of the biggest percentage growths that put them close to the top of the chart.
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Dorset’s increase has sent the number of available holiday homes it is registering into double figures for 2022 with 10,782 short-term lets.
Other popular locations also experiencing an increase in listings through companies including AirBnB are Norfolk, Shropshire, Gloucester and the Lake District. AirDNA says it is also noticing ‘an extension of seasonality’ meaning that there is also an increase in supply and demand in the low season as well as at peak times.
Far fewer places are witnessing a decline in property numbers with London, Cambridge and Windsor among a small handful, says AirDNA to have recorded a drop in the number of holiday homes available.
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In Kent, Whitstable is among the county’s most popular tourist destinations – having previously been ranked the eighth most popular town in the UK for second homes.
But down on the coast residents have long-raised concerns about the town being packed with rentals and people’s second homes.
A survey carried out by the Canterbury Green Party in September last year, which collected close to 170 responses, revealed that 87.6% of residents had concerns about the impact short-term holiday lets were having.
At the time, Airbnb owners defended their properties describing them as ‘vital’ to the local economy – among them Labour councillor and Airbnb owner Chris Cornell who, while in favour of more regulation, said the homes have an ‘important role in Whitstable’s economy’ as they are usually cleaned and serviced by local people.
Speaking at the time, he explained: “Like most Airbnb owners, it’s not big business and we don’t own thousands of them or taking billions of pounds in.
“Most of us are people trying to share the town we love and support local business.”
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Concerns over the potential for rowdy guests could prompt a government crackdown on short term lets, according to new anti social behaviour plans.
An action plan published by the Government on Monday aims to stop holiday properties ‘importing anti-social behaviour into communities’.
Referencing noise problems, drunken behaviour and disorderly conduct, the plan promises the creation of a new registration scheme that would provide councils with the data to identify short-term lets in the local area.
If any short-term rental property proved ‘problematic’, local officials could then take action against its guests and owners.
Communities Secretary Michael Gove earlier this month expressed concerns about the impact of short-term letting on local areas, promising to make changes aimed at restricting “the way that homes can be turned into Airbnbs”, amid concerns about problems with holiday lets preventing younger workers from living and finding a job near to home.
By Lauren Abbott
Source: Kent Online