Yahoo News Party could be over for Airbnb lets in Sunak crackdown
Airbnb owners and guests could face sanctions if properties are used as party houses under a drive to stamp out anti-social behaviour.
A register for short-term lets will help councils identify and take action against problem landlords and noisy or drunk and disorderly holidaymakers.
The move forms part of the Government's strategy to tackle the anti-social activities blighting Britain's neighbourhoods, as the Prime Minister declared people have "rightly had enough" of disruption on their doorsteps.
As part of the plans, the Government has also pledged to force offenders to clean up their own mess, move on beggars causing "public distress", and ban nitrous oxide - also known as laughing gas - by making it a Class C drug.
The 41-page action plan vows to prevent short-term lets "importing" bad behaviour into communities.
A new registration scheme will give councils the data to "easily identify" relevant properties in their area.
"If a let proves problematic, they can take action against guests and owners," the plan says. A consultation on the change will be published "shortly".
Rishi Sunak appeared somewhat rusty when asked about his plans to tackle Airbnbs at a question and answer session with the Chelmsford community on Monday. He pointed to "related" plans to speed up evictions for unruly renters who disrupt their neighbours.
The new strategy outlines how private landlords will be equipped with "stronger laws and systems" to send troublesome tenants packing, with an aim to halve the delay between the point at which an eviction notice is served for anti-social acts and an occupant is forced to leave the property.
Ministers will also "broaden the disruptive and harmful activities" that can lead to renters being turfed out, and introduce a "three strikes and you're out" rule for social tenants.
A spokesman for Airbnb said: "Parties are banned on Airbnb and our industry-leading prevention technology blocked more than 84,000 people in the UK from making certain unwanted bookings last year alone."
