Planning requirements for short term holiday lets / Airbnb etc.

The request was refused by Oxford City Council.

Dear Oxford City Council,

Please could you advise me as to any planning requirements for permission to operate a short term holiday let in your area. For example properties and rooms that may appear on online portals such as Airbnb, Booking dot com etc.

This is also often known as Serviced Accommodation. It is generally full furnished rooms or properties with cooking facilities etc.

It may be let out for a single night, or it could be let for a much longer period of time.

This question excludes apart-hotels, hotels, hostels, bed and breakfast and similar properties clearly defined in the Use Class Order.

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1) Which planning use class should the property be operating in?

Should it be C1, C3 or Sui Generis for example? Or can it operate in more than one?

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2) Is planning permission required? if the property is not operating in that Use Class?

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3) Does that Use Class change if a certain number of nights are occupied during the year? Or is planning permission required if a certain number of nights is exceeded per annum even if operating in the correct Use Class?

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4) Does your answer vary if it is a full unit such as a house or flat, as opposed to an annexe or a room or two within a C3 dwelling? If yes, how would the partial or full holiday let differ?

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5) Are there any other rules that serviced accommodation or short stay holiday let providers advertising on Airbnb etc., adhere to in addition to any number of nights per annum (question 3) within your area?

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Thanking you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

Yours faithfully,

Peter Johns

Freedom Of Information, Oxford City Council

Dear Peter Johns,

Freedom of Information, Oxford City Council – Reference: 11849

Thank you for your email.  Your request was received on 27th February 2023 and you will be sent a response within 20 working days (of receipt) in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject to the information not being exempt or containing reference to a third party.

Due to an unprecedented volume of Freedom of Information Requests currently, it is likely that some requests may go beyond the 20 working days. We are working as hard as possible to respond in a timely manner, but we feel it is better to keep requestors informed in advance.

Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Officer

| Freedom of Information Team | Law & Governance | Oxford City Council | Oxford Town Hall | St Aldates | Oxford | OX1 1DS |

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Planning, Oxford City Council

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Good morning

if you wish to receive some pre-application advice please visit the City
Council’s website:

www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20066/planning_ap...

What is the Pre-application Service?

You can use the pre-application service to receive advice about specific
proposals. You can select to receive written advice, a meeting or both.
The planning officer that deals with your pre-application query may
request that the meeting takes place on site or at the Council’s offices.

What information do I need to submit?

You do not need to provide full scale drawings at this stage but bear in
mind that if you are able to provide more information as part of your
pre-application submission you are likely to receive more specific advice
about the development. The planning officer that is assigned your case may
also request additional details if they are unable to establish the
specific nature of your query.

Do I need an architect?

You can submit the pre-application advice yourself or you can use an
architect, planning consultant or agent.

How much does it cost?

There is a scale of fees and charges contained within the pre-application
advice protocol:

https://www.oxford.gov.uk/downloads/file...

Where and how do I submit my pre-application advice request?

Simply download the form from:

https://www.oxford.gov.uk/downloads/file...

And submit the completed form by email (together with your drawings and
any other supporting information) to [email address].

Please make sure your email is headed ‘Request for pre-application advice’
and the address of the property where you are seeking to carry out
development.

Kind regards

 

Theo Smith | Customer Services Applications Officer | Business Improvement
| Oxford City Council | Town Hall | St Aldates | Oxford OX1 1BX | Building
Contol: 01865 252807| Planning: 01865 529113 Website:
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