Transcript

37 Days · STR Unpacked

Ben: Morning and welcome to your short-term rental bulletin on Monday, the 21st of September. So, obviously, the headline last league was a tax raid on holiday cottages. The document underneath it says there's something narrower and it does not say when. So on the 2nd of September, Marcus Campbell Savoie, the Labour Party MP for Penrith and Soloway, asked whether the Treasury had assessed the case for removing commercially let self. Catering accommodation from non-domestic rating. James Murray, the financial secretary to the Treasury, answered on the 10th of September, but he did not answer that question. What he did say, verbatim: concerns have been raised about small business rates, relief being used by second homeowners whose main aim is not to operate a local business but to maintain tax liabilities. Then that the call for evidence sought stakeholder input on the tax treatment of short lets. and that the government is carefully considering representations received, and that the response will come in due course. So that call for evidence was published in the budget on the 26th of November 2025 and closed on the 18th of February, so 215 days ago. It asks questions on how small business rates relief could be reformed to limit use by second homeowners, not whether to take self-catering out of rent out of rating. But the budget is the 28th of October, 37 days away. So a different rule has actually changed. Statutory instrument 2026, number six nine two. Came into force on the twenty-fourth of July and it strips out the seventy night actual lettings test in two cases. A unit occupied together with non-domestic land and that takes in five or more units not used as anyone's sole or main residence. The explanatory me memorandum is Blunt about why. It has never been government policy and obvious for obviously business properties, as such as apart hotels, to be subject to council tax. So a new block no longer has to trade a year on council tax before it reaches the rating list. So one caveat: if you check this on gov.uk page for applying. It was last updated on the 1st of April and it still only gives 140 and 70 but does not mention a July change. So the rule that has already changed rewards five or more units And the one in the headlines has not been decided. Thank you for watching and I'll see you tomorrow.