10 signatures reached
To: The Worshipful Mayor of Scarborough Scarborough Council Town Hall St Nicholas Street Scarborough YO11 2HG
Petition to the Mayor and Scarborough Town Council
Scarborough is experiencing a sharp rise in short-term holiday lets (like Airbnb and Vrbo), which is driving up rents, reducing the availability of homes for local residents, and disrupting our neighbourhoods. Local people are being priced out of the housing market, while entire streets in some areas are turning into holiday zones.
We are calling on Scarborough Council and the Mayor to take urgent action to regulate this growing problem by introducing a licensing and planning control system for short-term lets, following the example set by Edinburgh.
Specifically, we are asking for:
- A mandatory licensing scheme for all short-term let accommodations in Scarborough, to ensure that all holiday lets meet basic safety and quality standards and are properly registered and regulated.
- The designation of Scarborough as a Short-Term Let Control Area, requiring planning permission for any entire property being used as a holiday let that is not the owner's main home. This will help protect housing for local families and renters.
- A public consultation to give local people a voice on this issue and to assess the impact of short-term lets on housing, community wellbeing, and local services.
- Scarborough Council to urge the UK Government to support councils with the powers and legislation needed to properly manage and regulate short-term lets across the country.
We believe these steps will help strike a better balance between supporting tourism and protecting local housing and communities in Scarborough.
Why is this important?
Scarborough’s neighbourhoods—from South Cliff to Falsgrave, Newby to Northstead—have long offered safe, stable environments for families, workers, and retirees. But the accelerating rise of short-term holiday lets across the town is straining public services, inflating rents, and eroding community cohesion.
This report highlights key impacts observed town-wide and calls for proactive local planning to protect residential life while guiding tourism development toward sustainable areas.
In May 2023, over 620 crimes were recorded within a one-mile radius of South Cliff—but similar spikes are now surfacing in other neighbourhoods experiencing high holiday let turnover.
In May 2023, over 620 crimes were recorded within a one-mile radius of South Cliff—but similar spikes are now surfacing in other neighbourhoods experiencing high holiday let turnover.
Most reported incidents include:
- Violent and sexual offences
- Anti-social behaviour
- Opportunistic theft
Crime maps show strong overlap between dense short-let activity and elevated incident rates—including Royal Crescent, Belgrave Crescent, and expanding zones in North Bay and Old Town.
- High visitor turnover disrupts informal safety networks.
- Reduced neighbourly interaction weakens community oversight.
- Transient populations lead to lower accountability and higher risk tolerance.
Short-let hotspots stretch local services beyond capacity:
- Police coverage and community initiatives become inconsistent.
- Waste teams face frequent noncompliance and overflow.
- Noise complaints and minor vandalism increase in key areas including Westbourne Grove and Castle Road.
- Tourist-heavy zones offer concealment for criminal activity.
- Drug offences and theft are more common around Cromwell Parade, Victoria Road, and parts of Old Town.
- The lack of permanent residents makes it easier for offenders to operate unnoticed.
- Predictability and familiarity foster a sense of safety.
- Vulnerable groups—including elderly residents and shift workers—report higher stress levels.
- Loss of neighbourly trust reduces emotional wellbeing and social support.
- Holiday let conversions compromise historical architecture and neighbourhood identity.
- Victorian and Edwardian homes, especially in South Cliff and Falsgrave, are ill-suited to transient occupancy.
- Preserving heritage requires limits on incompatible short-let conversions.
North Yorkshire Council data (2023) shows:
- Over 600 long-term empty homes in Scarborough’s commercial core.
- These areas are better equipped with infrastructure and zoning for tourism.
Scarborough is facing a town-wide challenge. The unchecked expansion of short-term holiday lets threatens the stability, character, and safety of its residential zones.
Recommended actions:
- Rigorous planning review for new short-term lets
- Density limits in residential neighbourhoods
- Strategic redirection of tourism to the town centre
- Meaningful consultation with community members and civic groups
By taking a balanced approach, Scarborough can promote tourism while safeguarding the wellbeing and integrity of its communities.
