Tourists asked to check if holiday let is affecting the housing crisis

With summer in full swing, many families are beginning to plan their annual holidays. For many, this means renting a holiday home in one of the UK’s popular tourist destinations. However, tourists heading to the southwest of England are being urged to check prior to travelling if their rental will worsen the area’s affordable housing crisis.

In many parts of the country, tenant bidding wars are becoming more common. This increased competition is often pricing out low-income tenants and exacerbating the already critical shortage of affordable housing for locals, especially in southwest England.

In response to this growing problem, the government is urging holidaymakers to exercise “ethical consideration” when choosing a rental property. By selecting a property that is not contributing to the housing crisis, tourists can do their part to ensure that everyone has access to a safe and affordable place to call home.

The executive of the Cornwall Community Land Trust has called for tourists to simply ask their landlord to assure them that the accommodation is not having a negative impact on housing needs in the area.