“Thank you for contacting me about Furnished Holiday lettings.
Holiday lets contribute to the economy, create jobs, and support tourism. Let me be clear that the Government backs small businesses, including responsible short-term holiday letting, which I recognise brings significant investment to our local communities. At the same time, it is important to acknowledge the impact that large numbers of holiday lets concentrated in an area can have on local communities, especially in Rye, Camber and Old Town Hastings. We must aim to get the balance right between tourism and local residents.
The Government will abolish the Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime. Importantly this will eliminate the tax advantage for landlords who let short-term furnished holiday properties over those who let residential properties to longer-term tenants. This does not stop people conducting short term lets, but rather ensures that the system is equal for those letting long term or short term.
I understand your disappointment at this decision, however, it will level the playing field between short- term and long-term lets and no longer provide preferential treatment for owners of holiday homes. This measure aims to support people to live in their local area and is what many constituents have contacted me about.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Sally-Ann Hart MP”