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Hotel Industry fumes as UK prepares to legalize Airbnb in London

02/11/2015| 8:50:40 AM| 中文

Airbnb users have many options when they visit London, but they and their hosts are probably unaware that these short-term lets are often illegal. However, that’s about to change – much to the ire of the hotel industry.

On Monday, housing minister Brandon Lewis set out plans for short-term lets to be deregulated in London. A 42-year-old London law says that anyone wanting to rent out their home for less than 90 days must get planning permission to do so, or pay a £20,000 ($30,450) penalty per offence. The government now wants that law scrapped.

“We live in the 21st century, and London homeowners should be able to rent out their home for a short period without having to pay for a council permit. These laws … need to be updated for the internet age,” Lewis said in a statement.

However, the government would still restrict short-term letting to 90 days per calendar year or less, so that the properties don’t effectively become hotels. The properties also can’t be business premises, and councils will be able to apply for “small localized exemptions from the new flexibility, where there is a strong case to do so.”

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TAGS: Airbnb | short-term rental | London
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