Green councillor Ellen McLeay is urging Brighton & Hove City Council to take action against the growing issue of short-term holiday lets impacting the local rental and housing markets.

At the upcoming council meeting on Thursday, McLeay plans to propose a motion to address this concern, with support from fellow Green councillor Chloe Goldsmith.

Goldsmith emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating, “This is just one of many problems with the housing market in our city, but it’s one which we need to tackle as soon as possible. The council should begin the initial work now to ensure we are ready to implement these regulations as soon as possible.”

McLeay’s motion calls for a detailed report on how the council can leverage its planning powers to regulate short-term holiday lets. She is advocating for the use of an Article 4 Direction, which would grant additional planning control, similar to measures already in place to limit shared housing in the area.

The proposal includes presenting a report to the council’s cabinet and the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee, pinpointing areas in Brighton and Hove that would benefit from stricter regulation. The report would also outline enforcement measures for those who bypass necessary permissions for short-term lets.

McLeay is also set to request that council leader Bella Sankey formally ask the government to empower councils with the authority to regulate short-term lets and close any existing loopholes.