Neighbours fearing antisocial behaviour and noise have objected to plans for a new holiday let in a Brighton mews.
People living in and around Marlborough Mews, behind Western Road, failed to stop a holiday let at number 12 which was allowed on appeal earlier this year.
But they are hoping to stop another one at number one, for which an application was validated last month.
Kent-based owner Russell King says his family has used the house as a holiday home since 2023, and has also been let out during that time.
But neighbours say they don’t want the mews to become a “holiday complex” and are urging Brighton and Hove City Council to reject the plans.
One said: “As a three bedroom house, it attracts group bookings, and these groups are extremely noisy at times; particularly in the evenings when other residents are entitled to expect some peace and quiet.
“This happens with properties where the host does not live on the premises.”
Another said: “Change of use for this property permanently removes it from the long-term rental or ownership markets, making it harder for people like me and my neighbours to find affordable housing.
“This drives up prices and forces families to move away, breaking up the community bonds we have worked hard to build.”
Councillor Chloe Goldsmith has also objected, saying: “There have already been complaints from neighbours about significant noise, as well as other antisocial behaviour that other objectors have said impacts on how safe they feel in their neighbourhood.
“Other short term lets in the area are also already causing some issues, so adding another short-term let property into the mix would only exacerbate this problem.”
The council turned down the application for number 12, made by Carolyn Goodman from Hurstpierpoint.
But a planning inspector overturned the decision because Ms Goodman was able to prove it had been used as a holiday let for some time.
One objector argues Mr King’s use of number one as a holiday let since September 2023 is not long enough for it to be immune from enforcement action and should not be long enough to justify the loss of a permanent home.
Perhaps it’s our turn to protest about overturism now. 😀
The planning rules are very clear. If a holiday let has not been used as a holiday let for a decade and can prove trading history with HMRC and /or the business rates department then the the planning enforcement team at the council will close it down unless it applies for and receive planning permission for change of use. If you suspect this to be the case and the property the link to do this is here: https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/planning/planning-enforcement-investigation-request I am amazed the council do not make this power more widely known.
There’s a larger-scale discussion that needs to happen about how to manage holiday lets, investment housing, HMOs and RTBs. These can and should exist, but they need to be weighed against the needs of the city in a neutral, pragmatic way. A utilitarian approach, if you will.
Proliferation of Airbnb’s reduce the housing stock for local families who are forced out of central Brighton to areas beyond like Preston Park, disrupting schooling and work life . They cause rents and prices to increase to unaffordable levels and should be strictly regulated.
There are multiple non-Brighton based property investors undertaking Rent to Rent models. They take a, e.g 3 bed family Long Term Rental from the Landlord and re-stage it as an 8-bed serviced accommodation/holiday let.
Landlord gets maintained and managed property for fixed rent of circa £2,000 pm and re-staged serviced property nets circa £5-6k pm.
They also re-register for business rates and then apply for Small Business Rates 100% reduction- thereby paying zero CT yet tripling profits from property.
The Council need to get a grip of this and stop focusing on second home, easy target, genuine holiday homes.