Officials at a London council are investigating owners of nearly 2,500 properties who it’s claimed have broken the rules on short-term lets.
Westminster is pledging a crackdown on what’s described as a “wild west” of residents renting out homes to holidaymakers, in an ongoing battle with owners breaching a 90-day limit governing short-term rentals.
The council receives dozens of complaints from residents weekly related to holiday homes and officials say housing stock and the local hotel trade are being hit.
Suspected brothels, party flats with a “revolving door” of revellers and severe overcrowding have all been uncovered during previous council investigations.
In all, the borough has more than 10,500 properties being used as holiday homes and short-term lets - and officials suspect almost a quarter of them could be breaking regulations.
To discover more about Tuesday’s front page story, we’re joined by Evening Standard chief political correspondent Rachael Burford.
Plus, Gucci turns the Tate Modern art gallery into a plant-filled fashion catwalk, and the Evening Standard’s fashion director Victoria Moss explains why the Italian luxury label chose Southwark for its showcase.
Stars on the front row included model Kate Moss, actors Salma Hayek and Paul Mescal, plus singers Dua Lipa and Debbie Harry.
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