## Government targets holiday let evictions through Renters’ Rights Act

The UK government has announced that the Renters’ Rights Act contains provisions to stop landlords evicting tenants simply to convert their properties into holiday lets. Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, confirmed this in a recent written parliamentary response. This legislative change is part of wider efforts to balance the benefits of short-term lets with the need to maintain housing availability and affordability for long-term residents.

## Background: concerns over short-term lets and housing affordability

Short-term and holiday lets have grown in popularity, particularly in areas with high tourist demand. While these can boost local economies, excessive concentrations of such lets have raised concerns about reducing the supply of homes available for rent or purchase by local people. Lord Truscott’s written question to the government asked when legislation would be introduced to regulate short-term let properties, highlighting the ongoing debate around this issue.

In response, Baroness Taylor acknowledged the benefits of second homes and short-term lets but emphasised the government’s awareness of their potential negative impact on housing availability and affordability. She noted recent policy changes, including the abolition of the furnished holiday lets tax regime to remove incentives favouring short-term lets, and the increase of Stamp Duty Land Tax rates on additional dwellings by five percentage points above standard rates.

## Key provision: removal of eviction ground for holiday lets

A critical element of the Renters’ Rights Act is the removal of Ground 3 from Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988. This ground previously required courts to grant possession to landlords if the property had been used as a holiday let within the 12 months before the tenancy began. According to the Act’s explanatory notes, this legal ground facilitated seasonal holiday lets where properties were let as holiday accommodation during peak seasons and rented to private tenants for the remainder of the year.

By abolishing this ground, the Act prevents landlords from evicting tenants solely to re-let properties as short-term holiday lets during periods of high tourist demand. This change strengthens tenant security and aims to reduce the displacement of long-term renters caused by the lure of more profitable holiday lets.

## Additional measures and future plans

Alongside these legal changes, the government is progressing a national registration scheme for short-term lets through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. This scheme is intended to improve data management and oversight of short-term letting activity.

Moreover, a consultation has been launched on granting new powers to regional Mayors to impose an overnight levy on holiday lets. This could provide local authorities with additional tools to manage the impact of holiday lets on housing markets and communities.

## What this means for landlords and letting agents

Landlords in England should be aware that the Renters’ Rights Act now limits their ability to regain possession of properties by citing previous holiday let use as a reason for eviction. This change encourages landlords to consider the long-term rental market more carefully when managing their portfolios. Letting agents should advise landlords accordingly and stay informed about the evolving regulatory landscape around short-term lets and tenant protections.

Suggested internal link anchors

– Renters’ Rights Act
– holiday let eviction rules
– short-term lets regulation
– Stamp Duty Land Tax changes
– tenant eviction grounds
– national registration scheme for short-term lets
– overnight levy on holiday lets
– housing affordability impacts
– landlord possession rights
– seasonal holiday lets
– tenant security measures
– regional Mayors’ powers

TLA update

TLA is launching a new Trusted Partners Hub in Q1 2026, featuring verified and approved service providers selected to support landlords, tenants, and property management businesses. We are inviting legal, trades, insurance, financial, mortgage, tenant screening, and other service providers to register their interest here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/become-a-tla-service-partner/