Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Property Industry Eye. Read the original article for full details.

Government Confirms Launch Date for National Short-Term Lets Register

A national register of short-term and holiday lets in England will be fully operational by March 2027, according to a government announcement. Culture secretary Lisa Nandy confirmed the timetable in Parliament on 3 September.

The register is expected to be mandatory and will operate primarily online. However, the government has not yet confirmed several key details, including what information property owners and operators will need to provide, how the register will be administered, or how frequently providers will need to register.

The scheme aims to give local authorities more information about the number and location of short-term lets in their areas. Ministers expect that this data will help councils assess the impact of holiday accommodation on local housing markets and support enforcement of existing health and safety requirements.

Scotland and Northern Ireland already have registration or licensing systems for short-term accommodation, while Wales is set to introduce a visitor accommodation register from October 2026.

The growth of short-term lets has raised concerns about the supply of homes available for long-term renting in some areas. Industry body Propertymark has previously called for greater parity between short-term lets and the private rented sector, while also arguing that regulation should reflect local housing market conditions. Propertymark has also stated that councils should have flexibility over how the system operates locally and that sufficient resources must be provided for effective implementation.