A short-term letting generally refers to a residential property rented for less than six months. While often ranging from a few nights to a few weeks, legal definitions frequently cap these rentals at under 90 nights for planning purposes in places like London, or classify them generally as any tenancy under six months.
Short term letting is when a residential property is rented out (or let) for a period of less than 90 nights. This includes Londoners letting or sharing their homes on platforms such as Airbnb, HomeAway and Booking.com.
Short-term rentals are defined as those offered by the day, week, or even for a few months, as long as they are not habitual or permanent. The following must be registered: Entire homes rented for tourist purposes. Rooms within a home where the owner also resides.
As per Section 19A, it is now perfectly legal to offer a shorter let. Typically, AST's are six or twelve months long, but this isn't to say that either party can't extend the tenancy or agree in advance for it to be either longer or shorter!
The "6-month rule" in property finance (mainly UK) is an industry guideline from UK Finance (formerly CML) where most mainstream lenders won't offer a new mortgage or remortgage on a property owned by the seller for less than six months, to prevent fraud and risky "back-to-back" transactions. Ownership starts from the Land Registry registration date, not completion. While not law, it stops quick flips, but specialist lenders or bridge-to-let products can offer solutions for those needing to refinance sooner, like after cash purchases or renovations.
As a general rule of thumb, a short-term tenancy is usually a rental property that is being offered to the market for six months or less. Tenancies ranging from 6 months to a year are commonly marketed as medium-term rentals, with anything over a year deemed to be a long-term let.
Is It Legal to Offer Short-Term Lets in London? London has a 90-day rule for holiday lets, which applies to nightly or weekly-style Airbnb accommodations. Properties in Greater London cannot be let for more than 90 days in a calendar year as short-term stays unless the landlord has planning permission.
What is the difference between a holiday let and a short-term let?
Generally, a short-term let is a property that is let out for up to 6 months at a time; they are often referred to as holiday lets and are aimed at offering temporary accommodation for tourists and holidaymakers.
Per ABA/NALP reporting guidelines, positions lasting less than a year are considered short-term, and positions lasting for one calendar year or more from the start date are considered long-term.
New landlord rules in England, primarily from the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (effective May 2026), focus on greater tenant security by banning 'no-fault' evictions, ending fixed-term contracts (making all tenancies periodic), limiting rent rises to once a year (with challenges allowed), banning rent bidding, and introducing a "Decent Homes Standard" with tougher EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rules (EPC 'C' by 2028). Landlords must also provide a minimum 12-month protection period for tenants before using grounds for possession, with a new "lifetime deposit" system also planned.
The 90-day short-term let rule, primarily in Greater London, limits renting out an entire home to a maximum of 90 nights per calendar year without specific planning permission, stemming from the Deregulation Act 2015 to balance tourism with housing needs. Hosts must get council approval for longer periods, and platforms automatically block bookings past the limit, though it doesn't usually apply to renting a single room in your primary residence or lets outside London.
Airbnb's "25+ rule" restricts guests under 25 from booking entire homes in certain areas (US, Canada, UK, France, Spain) to prevent parties, unless they have a strong review history (3+ positive reviews, no negatives) or are booking away from their local area. The platform uses algorithms and ID verification (driver's license, passport) to enforce this, with younger, verified guests who have good reviews generally exempt from the local booking ban. Hosts can also set their own age requirements in their house rules.
Yes, you often need council approval (planning permission or a license) for Airbnb, especially if it's a full-time rental, you're renting your whole home, exceed 90 nights a year (in many UK areas), or live in a designated control zone, though renting out a spare room in your main home occasionally usually doesn't require it. Rules vary by location, with places like Scotland having mandatory licensing and London enforcing the 90-night cap unless you have permission.
Can you complain if your neighbour uses her house as an Airbnb?
If you raise an Airbnb complaint with the local authority, they will investigate if they believe it amounts to 'Statutory Nuisance'. Any Statutory Nuisance could result in an Abatement Notice being sent to your neighbour which would order them to stop causing a nuisance (i.e. stop using the property as an Airbnb).
Can I stop my neighbour from renting his flat out on Airbnb?
The local authority may serve an abatement notice to restrain the nuisance. Alternatively, you could bring civil proceedings for an injunction compelling your neighbour to stop any private nuisance.
What is the difference between Airbnb and Short Let?
Airbnb tends to be pricier as they charge by the night, but include utilities. Short-term lets are cheaper in terms of rent, but include upfront costs and utilities.
A short-term rental typically refers to a rental agreement that lasts for less than a year, often ranging from a few days to several months. Technically, there's a difference between short-term-rentals and mid-term-rentals. Short-term rentals: Last for less for 30 days.
A short–term rental is typically defined as a rental of any residential home unit or accessory building for a short period of time. This generally includes stays of less than a month (30 days), but the maximum length can vary depending on the state and jurisdiction in which the rental is located.
However, most short-term rentals deal with rentals for as little as a day or two to a week. In some places, a property is considered a short-term rental if the rental period is six months or less. But multi-month leases are more often considered long-term.
