Holiday let operators in York want to work with communities and not against them, a local manager of the properties has said following calls for tougher regulations.
Germaine Mason, who helps manage York properties for rental company Pass The Keys, said the industry recognised people had concerns about holiday lets and backed proposals to register them.
But she warned against an abrupt decision on tougher rules so jobs and lets’ contribution to the local economy are not put at risk.
The manager’s comments come as a petition from York Labour councillors calling for the industry to be more tightly controlled was signed by 1,031 people as of Friday, July 11.
The petition warned that communities risked being hollowed out unless restrictions on the amount and location of lets are brought in.
Labour Guildhall councillors Cllr Rachel Melly and Dave Merrett said the council was currently powerless to stop noise and antisocial behaviour and local areas faced irreversible damage.
York Central Labour MP Rachael Maskell also published a private members bill in June which would require properties to have licences to operate as holiday lets if it becomes law.
Work on proposals from the previous Conservative Government to register holiday lets also remains ongoing, with Labour Tourism Minister Chris Bryant telling MPs in January they would be ready soon.
Lets are currently subject to some planning, business and housing rules but councils cannot limit the overall amount of them or block them in certain areas.
‘Work with communities’
The Short-Term Accommodation Association industry body has said it supports a registration scheme but regulations should strike the right balance between helping communities and the visitor economy.
Ms Mason, who has lived in York for 17 years, started running her own holiday let in 2016 before going on to manage properties for Pass The Keys.
The company launched in York in 2019.
The manager said operators were responsible traders who would act to address issues like noise and disruption from their properties.
The manager said: “Our guests have to follow house rules and we have a support team that closely monitors lets.
“As an industry we acknowledge that most of our lets are in residential areas and we’re concious that there are concerns about things like waste and parking, we give our neighbours contact cards so they can speak to us.
“We want to work with communities, we don’t want to be opposed to them.
“When we receive an enquiry from a potential guest we think about where we put them, if we have a request from a professional say we’d look at putting them in a quieter residential street.
“We wouldn’t bring a party of ten into a quiet street, we’re conscious of what we’re doing.
“I once got a call at 10pm at night from a neighbour complaining about noise from a property, I went round in person and knocked on the door and I was able to diffuse the situation.
“We want to do that because it sets a good example and shows our neighbours and guests that we mean business.
“We have guests who put their own rubbish out before they leave our properties because they appreciate that it’s a privilege to stay in beautiful York.
“I came into the industry as a host and I’ve seen a change in the market and clientele.
“After the coronavirus pandemic the expectations that guests had about the level of hygiene and general professionalism changed.
“Guests have also become more diverse, we have digital nomads who work while they travel and also students and business people, they’re not just stereotypical tourists.
“A registration scheme is a sensible approach, we know we’re a lightly-regulated industry compared to others.
“We should get the data and see where the areas of concern are first before we make any abrupt decisions about regulation.”