Information about
letting your property during the Games
If you own a property in Newham,
you might be excited about the Games for reasons that have nothing
to do with sport. With talk in the press of the large sums to be
made, letting property to visitors is a tempting
prospect.
But if you are planning to let property, you must be
aware of the law on short-term lettings. Planning permission will
not normally be required for householders taking in up to two
lodgers and remaining in the home themselves. Plus specific
permission is required by your landlord if you are a Newham Council
tenant or leaseholder and wish to sub-let your property.
However, letting your property for a short amount of time, ie fewer
than 90 days, means you need to apply to change its use from
residential to 'temporary sleeping accommodation'. You must do this
by the end of May.
The council is unlikely to grant permission if we have reason to
believe that visitors will be staying longer than the duration of
the Games, but each application will be considered on its
individual planning merits.
The council has been receiving complaints from residents that
landlords are planning to unlawfully end tenancies before the Games
or are offering illegal short-term contracts, in order to profit
from higher rents during that period.
The council will be enforcing the law to prevent this. Our
priority is protecting our existing residents and communities, so
if we do grant permission, it will be very tightly regulated. We
can, for example, consider asking applicants to pay for an
inspection after the Games to make sure the property has gone back
to its original, long-term residential use.
If we discover any property being used as a short-term let without
permission, we will take legal action, which may result in a
fine.
More advice
HM Revenue and Customs website:
Tax
on rental income if you rent out a room for London
2012
Find out more about what planning permission is needed and how to
apply on our main planning page or by calling 020 3373 8300.