London Councils Short-Term Lets Policies 'need review before Olympics'

Homeowners who are thinking about putting up property to rent in Maida Vale, London, during next year's Olympics have been urged to check that they will not be breaking the law.

According to the BBC, the National Association of Estate Agents has called for a review of legislation regarding short-term lettings, as homeowners could be in breach of the law if they allow rent-paying tenants to stay for less than a set period of time.

However, different London councils have separate rules on short-term lets, with Haringey in the north of the city telling the broadcaster that it will not be cracking down on property owners renting out their homes during the Games.

Westminster council, in contrast, does not usually allow residents to charge people rent if they are staying in the home for 90 days or less as it wants to improve the market for longer-term tenants and property buyers.

Rosemarie MacQueen, head of city planning development and design at Westminster, told the BBC: "In Westminster, we have a population of 250,000 and that has to grow with targets from the mayor and ourselves.

"If we have short term lets, we'll never increase our long-term residential population."She explained that many people who live in blocks of flats with short-term lets have a problem with the temporary residents, as they feel their quality of life is compromised.

"There's a fear of crime, they don't know the faces of the people who are coming in and a lot of short-term residents don't treat the place like home."They leave litter in the corridors, come and go and have parties," Ms MacQueen added.

So those with property to rent in Hampstead, London, would do well to check with their local authority about the legality of installing short-term tenants for the duration of the Olympic events, as otherwise they could end up with a £20,000 fine and a criminal record.

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