Ben Maguire’s Airbnb Bill back in Parliament over Cornwall homes

Turning a house into a shop needs planning permission. Turning it into a holiday let does not. One Cornish MP wants that gap closed.

Ben Maguire, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, presented his updated ‘Airbnb Bill’ to Parliament on Thursday 12 November. It would require planning permission before a family home can be turned into a holiday let or second home, in the same way planning is required to turn a house into a shop.

What the Airbnb Bill would change

Ben says councils in areas like Cornwall, where there is an acute housing shortage, need proper powers to regulate the change of use of homes.

Under his proposal, converting a home into a holiday let or second home would need planning permission, just as it does for other commercial businesses.

On Friday 13 November, he says he will back Andrew George MP’s Homes and Planning Bill, which includes the Airbnb proposal as a specific clause in legislation.

A call for a debate

Ahead of presenting the Bill, Ben asked the Leader of the House, Sir Alan Campbell, to commit to a debate in Government time on reforming the change-of-use rules.

What Ben Maguire said

“Cornwall is in the midst of a huge housing crisis,” Ben said. “Too many local family homes are being lost to holiday lets, or second home owners coming down from the cities for their annual getaway.

“I will be giving my full backing to Andrew George’s ‘Homes and Planning Bill’, which includes my Airbnb proposal. Cornish families need a safe and affordable place to live, and I’ll be fighting until the Government legislate appropriately for this to happen.

“My ‘Airbnb Bill’ would finally give councils the power to say ‘NO’, requiring planning permission before a home can be converted into a holiday let or second home, just as it is for any other commercial business.”

He added that he raised the need for a full debate on the topic and will keep his campaign going.

📷Ben Maguire MP speaking in the House of Commons. Credit: Ben Maguire MP