Letting out a self-catering holiday home in England: rules and regulations

We reviewed this page on 2 October 2026. It will be reviewed again on 2 April 2026. 

let out a self‑catering property (including cottages, apartments, lodges, or similar) 

offer short‑term accommodation to paying guests for leisure or holiday purposes 

Register your property (not yet in force) 

The UK government is introducing a mandatory national registration scheme for short‑term lets in England. It is expected to begin in March 2027. 

Your local planning authority will decide whether you need planning permission. This is based on how the property is used for short‑term letting and its impact on neighbours and the local area. 

You should contact your council to confirm whether you need planning permission. 

If your property is rated as a self-catering business, you may need to pay business rates instead of council tax. 

The government abolished the Furnished Holiday Let (FHL) tax regime on 6 April 2025.

From the 2025 to 2026 tax year onwards, all income from short-term holiday accommodation and self-catering properties is taxed under usual residential landlord rules. The previous FHL tax reliefs no longer apply.

You must follow the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance on: 

If you provide TVs or play recorded music, you may need: 

a licence to play live or recorded music (if you play music outside of the private or domestic exemption) 

building and contents cover suitable for short‑term letting