Planning permission for a holiday let.

[stuh1980]

Hi all, just a query for those of you with a bit more knowledge than me. Our house has a shared driveway with next door, driveway owned by us with an easement for next doors access to the rear which expands out into a large parking area with room for 3 cars comfortably each, i have boundary markers set out along the boundary line in the gravel so there is no confusion (3" steel circles with a stake on the bottom driven into the hardcore below the gravel). The parking area is approx equal in size with access to the garden etc at the back of the parking area . The lady that bought the house did a little renovation and has suddenly started it up as a holiday let. So my concerns are:

1, Is she allowed to do this without planning permission?, should we have been consulted?
2, Access to the back of my house/garden/shed/precious things by strangers, who on a potentially weekly basis could be different. As already said there are only boundary markers across the divide.
3, We are shortly planning to move, will this put potential buyers off? (it would me), do we need to declare that it is a holiday let to potential buyers? (i would have thought yes).
4, If we contact the local authority to challenge the properties use, will this lead to an ongoing local council process which takes months or longer to resolve?, and affect the sale of our house?

It is quite frustrating as if she had waited another six months we would have moved and it would not be our problem. I`m sure most of you can see our issue, there is no real problem so far (1st lets are in this week) and they are a nice elderly couple, however i can forsee lots of potential problems for the future with maybe not quite so pleasant people using it. Or am i worrying about nothing?, Any thoughts appreciated folks - cheers.

I have googled this and found i couldnt really get a straight answer.

[stuh1980]

Bump for the evening crowd

[Steve H]

I'm not sure if planning permission would be required for change of use from residential in a case like this but even if it was I suspect it would be pretty easy to get. Obtaining permission to convert a non-residential building is generally easier for holiday lets as it brings tourism to the area etc - it's considered a good thing to do. Any objections you had to it would have to be on planning grounds, just saying you didn't fancy it or trust the visitors not to behave wouldn't be any good.

Regarding disclosure on sale, you are obliged to state any disputes with neighbours so if you did complain about this you'd have to disclose it, I don't know that you would have to mention that next door was used routinely as a holiday let but at some point any sensible buyer will ask about the neighbours at which point you would have to tell them.

[Bill]

What he said. Whether their mortgage company know is another question, but I can't see any way to object without having to declare it. Obviously if anyone asks then you have to answer honestly but I can't see it coming up.

[ozzuk]

I used to own (and live in) holidays lets, I was restricted to 11 months occupancy. I obtained planning permission to change to residential, but there was nothing stopping me continuing to use it as holiday lets, it really just meant lifting the occupancy restriction and changing from commercial class.

That is a point however, you likely cannot stop them letting it out, however I believe they could need a holiday let mortgage - or at the very least permission from their mortgage provider. I don't see how that helps you though.

My neighbours were often kicking up a fuss about our 'guests' wandering around where they shouldn't, it can be an issue and we put signs up warning people but they still did.

[stuh1980]

Thanks for the advice guys, i`m fairly sure it was a cash buy for the property so no mortgage company etc. I think we`ll just have to let it go as we`re to close to ours going on the market (a few weeks) for it to become an issue hopefully. Like you say the last thing we want is a dispute to get in the way of selling ours. How do holiday lets work with council tax etc?, i`m fairly sure she wont have told them as she is a "ill do what i want" type of person. I know if i bought our house without being told it was a holiday let next door i really wouldnt be impressed - although as said if potential buyers ask i will obviously tell them. She is already breaking the easement rules by having commercial vehicles round the back fairly regularly but we`ve not said anything so a dispute or anything else daft doesnt start. Ah well annoying as it is let sleeping dogs lie and all that, and get ours sold without any issues.thanks folks

[Bill]

She should be paying business rates, but as she may well be eligible for small business rates relief I would bother pursuing it.

[stuh1980]

Agreed bill, just not worth it for us!, cheers