England is getting a national register for short-term lets. If you let a flat, house or cottage to paying guests on Airbnb, Booking.com or your own website, you will very likely need to sign up. Here is what is confirmed, what is still unknown, and what we suggest landlords do now.
What is the short-term let register?
It is a single, national list of properties in England that are let to guests for short stays. The legal power comes from section 228 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. That section says the government must make regulations for registering short-term rental properties in England.
The aim is to give councils proper data on how many short lets operate in their area, and to make sure hosts follow basic safety rules.
When does it start?
GOV.UK guidance for holiday let owners was updated on 2 October 2026 to say the scheme is expected to begin in March 2027. It is still marked as not yet in force.
That matters. An earlier target of 2026 came and went. Until the regulations are laid before Parliament, treat March 2027 as the plan rather than a guaranteed date.
Who will need to register?
The government has said the scheme will be:
- Mandatory and national. One scheme for the whole of England, not council by council.
- For short lets to paying guests. Self-catering homes, Airbnbs and holiday lets let for leisure or holiday stays.
- Light-touch, low cost and mainly online. The idea is a simple digital process.
What we don't know yet: the exact definition of a short let, whether room lets in your own home are included, the fee, what evidence you upload, and the penalty for not registering. We will update this guide when the regulations are published.
What you will probably be asked for
Nothing is final, but most registration schemes ask hosts to confirm they meet the rules they should already be following. It makes sense to have these ready:
- Gas safety certificate (yearly) if there is a gas supply.
- Electrical safety checks (EICR) and PAT testing for appliances you supply.
- Fire risk assessment, plus working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Short-let or holiday let insurance, not just a standard landlord policy.
- Permission to let short-term, from your mortgage lender, and your freeholder if you own a leasehold flat.
If you can't show these today, fix them now. They are already required, register or not.
Is a planning change coming too?
Separately, the government consulted in 2023 on a new planning "use class" for short lets, called C5. That would let councils require planning permission for new short lets in some areas. It is not in force, and it is a different thing from the register. London already has its own limit: see our guide to the London 90-night rule.
How to get ready now
- Gather your documents in one folder, with renewal dates.
- Check your consents. Lender and lease restrictions catch out more hosts than anything else.
- Keep booking records. Nights let and guest numbers will help with registration, and with tax and business rates. Our guide to holiday let business rates explains why the number of nights matters.
- Use a manager who handles compliance. With LoftQube Stays management we keep certificates, alarms and checks up to date for you.
If you're in Wales, the rules are different. Read our Wales visitor levy guide.
Thinking of letting your property short-term?
We manage Airbnb, serviced accommodation and holiday lets across England and Wales, from city flats to countryside cottages and hotels. See what yours could earn.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change, so check GOV.UK, GOV.WALES or a qualified adviser before you act.