THE Jubilee weekend is set to bing in big crowds as they head to popular tourist destinations and hotspots around the country - with many opting to say in holiday lets during their visits.

New data shows there are almost 100 homes newly-registered as holiday lets in Copeland – despite concern over the impact of increased tourism on some communities nationally.

Many have seen an opportunity to capitalise on the surge in domestic holidays by changing their second homes to holiday lets.

This change means that owners do not have to pay council tax.

New figures from the Government’s Valuation Office Agency, provided by property experts Altus Group, show there were 354 holiday lets in Copeland trading as businesses as of the end of May – 98 more than in mid-March 2020, before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

Groups have highlighted the increased pressure of the uptick in tourism on some communities – particularly those in rural and coastal areas – such as increased rent and stretched local services

Across England and Wales, nearly 20,000 new homes have been newly registered as holiday lets over the course of the pandemic – there are now 83,342 nationally.

Owners of holiday lets in England can claim 100% business rates relief if the property has a rateable value of up to £12,000.

Records from the  Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities from September 2021  show there were 874 properties registered as second homes for council tax purposes in Copeland.

Secretary of state for levelling up Michael Gove said the Government wanted to encourage “responsible” short-term letting.

Read more: Over 100 second homes converted to holiday lets in Allerdale

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