Campaign to restrict holiday lets and second homes
BBC/Federica BedendoA campaign has been launched calling for restrictions on holiday lets and second homes in a tourist hotspot.
Friends of the Lake District is calling for the government to introduce tougher regulation on short-term holiday lets and second homes in Cumbria, amid concerns over their growing number and impact on residents.
The landscape charity said second homes were often empty and underused, while local people struggled to access affordable housing in their home towns. CEO Michael Hill said: "The uncontrolled expansion of holiday accommodation is having a huge community impact."
The ministry of housing has been approached for comment.
The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) said the park supported the visitor economy, but there was a "real pressure" on the availability of affordable housing for locals.
Current regulations mean an existing home can be turned into a holiday let or second home without planning permission.
Friends of the Lake District said short-term lets were not subject to the same level of regulations around fire safety, disability access and business insurance, and it wanted the government to "level the playing field".
Its Fairer Housing, Stronger Communities campaign is calling for a requirement to apply for permission before turning a permanent residence into a second home or holiday let, while also making short-term lets subject to licences to run them.
Hill said: "This isn't a matter of telling people what they can or cannot do with their property or undermining the visitor economy, but giving a fairer chance to people wanting to live and work permanently in Cumbria and who will keep communities -and the visitor economy itself - alive."
The LDNPA's chief executive Gavin Capsticksaid the authority had asked the government to trial a new scheme in the county to tackle the problem.
He said: "Introducing measures to manage the number of second homes and holiday lets will help to maintain community vibrancy and resilience in the Lake District National Park."
