Cumbria council restricts former council homes from becoming holiday lets

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 14:34 · Archive

Westmorland and Furness Council is proposing rules to prevent certain former council homes being used as Airbnbs or second homes.

Westmorland and Furness Council is proposing a new policy to govern the sale of certain former council homes which are subject to local occupancy restrictions. The restrictions affect properties in parts of the former South Lakeland and Eden council areas and are intended to prevent homes originally built for local residents disappearing from the permanent housing market. Under the proposed policy, affected properties cannot be used as second homes, Airbnbs or holiday lets.

People buying the homes would normally have to demonstrate a substantial connection to Cumbria. The policy states that at least one person who will occupy the property must generally have lived or worked continuously in Cumbria for the previous three years. Local occupancy restrictions were originally placed on some former council homes when they were sold under Right to Buy and affect subsequent sales of those properties.

The rules are particularly significant in rural communities where the availability and affordability of permanent homes have become major concerns. The council has inherited different arrangements from its predecessor authorities and is seeking a consistent approach to how applications are dealt with across Westmorland and Furness. The policy does not introduce a blanket ban on second homes or holiday accommodation across the district, but instead governs a particular group of homes which already have restrictions attached to them. The proposals will go before the council's Cabinet on Tuesday, 10 November.

How it is being reported

• Cumbria homes protected from becoming Airbnbs and second homes under new policyHomes in parts of Cumbria will be protected from being turned into Airbnbs, holiday lets and second homes under rules designed to keep properties available for local people.Westmorland Gazette · 3 Nov, 14:00
• Cumbria homes protected from becoming Airbnbs and second homes under new policyHomes in parts of Cumbria will be protected from being turned into Airbnbs, holiday lets and second homes under rules designed to keep properties available for local people.NW Evening Mail · 3 Nov, 14:00

In this story: Westmorland and Furness Council · South Lakeland · Eden · Cumbria

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