NEW figures have revealed that there are more than 150 homes newly-registered as holiday lets in Allerdale.

The coronavirus pandemic lead to the new phenomenon 'staycationing', as domestic holidays skyrocketed - and many wealthier people are making gains by changing their second homes into holiday lets.

The Government’s Valuation Office Agency produced data, provided by property experts Altus Group, show there were 1,272 holiday lets in Allerdale as of May.

This is a rise of 161 compared to pre-pandemic.

The figures cover second homes which are registered as commercial premises – meaning they must be made available for at least 140 days each year– but does not include other second homes used for private holiday lets.

There is notable concern for the increased pressure that tourism has on some communities – particularly those in areas such as Cumbria.

Altus Group says the national rise may be due to people ‘flipping’ their second homes to holiday lets which provides a council tax loophole.They do not need to prove the property has actually been let out to claim the tax break.

Holiday let owners can claim 100 per cent business rates relief if the property has a rateable value of up to £12,000.

In January the Government announced it was clamping down on the holiday let tax loophole, telling second homeowners they will have to prove their properties are rented out for a minimum of 70 days a year in order to access this.

Generation Rent, a charity that campaigns for fair housing, said there were “countless” stories of tenants being evicted to make way for a holiday let.

The charity's deputy director, Dan Wilson Craw, said: “Taking homes out of the residential market prices out people who want to settle down in the place they grew up.

"That destroys communities and starves local businesses of workers."

Records from the  Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities from September 2021 show there were 1,296 properties registered as second homes for council tax purposes in Allerdale.

Secretary of State Michael Gove said the Government wanted to encourage “responsible” short-term letting.

“We will not stand by and allow people in privileged positions to abuse the system by unfairly claiming tax relief and leaving local people counting the cost," he said.

“The action we are taking will create a fairer system, ensuring that second homeowners are contributing their share to the local services they benefit from.”

Read more: Dozens of second homes converted to holiday lets in Carlisle