Short term and nightly letting (for example Airbnb)

Part of: Planning advice for common projects

You can use residential premises for short-term or nightly letting (for example through Airbnb) without planning permission, if the use does not exceed 90 nights in a calendar year.

Using a property for short-term letting for more than 90 nights per calendar year will require planning permission and must comply with policy DM53 (Hotels and Visitor Accommodation) of our Development Management DPD.

The policy requires visitor accommodation to:

  • be within existing town centres or locations
  • be well served by public transport
  • avoid a negative impact to surrounding residents

The person who is providing the short term accommodation is liable to pay council tax.

Legislation (planning restriction)

Within Greater London (including Haringey) all short-term lets are subject to a planning restriction. This restriction makes the use of residential premises for temporary sleeping accommodation a 'material change of use' for which planning permission is required.

The Deregulation Act of 2015 created an exception to this restriction.

This exception allows residential premises to be used as temporary sleeping accommodation without a change of use. In this case, the total number of nights cannot exceed 90 nights in a calendar year.