REGULATORY GUIDE

Stay fully compliant with Sevenoaks's short-term rental regulations. Everything you need to know about permits, taxes, and legal requirements.
Last updated:
United Kingdom
England
Sevenoaks
REGULATORY GUIDE

Stay fully compliant with Sevenoaks's short-term rental regulations. Everything you need to know about permits, taxes, and legal requirements.
Last updated:
United Kingdom
England
Sevenoaks

TL;DR

Rules

How to comply

Rules, Taxes & Penalties

Upcoming Changes

FAQs

GOV.UK: Self-catering & holiday let (Business Rates)

No single legal threshold. Treated case-by-case under planning (C3→C1 ‘material change of use’). London’s 90-night cap is unique to Greater London.

Short-term lets are legal in Sevenoaks, but you may need planning permission if a C3 dwelling is run as visitor accommodation (serviced accommodation/C1 or sui generis) on a frequent basis. There’s no town-wide night cap. Report income to HMRC; if the property is available 140+ days and actually let 70+ days it may be moved from Council Tax to Business Rates. No local tourist levy.

Legality
Short lets are allowed, but planning permission may be required case-by-case where use of a dwelling as short-stay accommodation amounts to a material change of use.
Night Cap
None locally. London’s 90-night cap is London-only.
STR Register
No local STR register. Apply for planning permission if advised by the council (material change of use). A national registration scheme for England is planned.
Risk
High-intensity whole-home letting in flats or sensitive areas can trigger planning enforcement—check use-class risk before scaling.

Key Rules at a Glance

Overview of requirements, authorities, and costs for short-term rental compliance
Requirement
What you need
Authority / Link
Cost / Time

Registration / Permit

No local STR register. Apply for planning permission if advised by the council (material change of use). A national registration scheme for England is planned.

Max Nights

None locally. London’s 90-night cap is London-only.

Planning / Zoning

Most non-major applications are decided in about 8 weeks (varies with validation/consultation).

Fee
£
528
Around 8 weeks for non-major applications (subject to validation and consultation).

Safety & Insurance

Complete a fire-risk assessment and follow the small paying-guest accommodation guide; install and maintain smoke alarms on each storey and CO alarms where required; test regularly and keep records.

Tax

Income tax via HMRC. Business rates if available 140+ days & let 70+; else Council Tax. Rent-a-Room £7,500 (main home). Councils may charge up to 100% second-home premium from Apr 2025. FHL abolished 6 Apr 2025.

Step-by-Step: How to comply

Overview of requirements, authorities, and costs for short-term rental compliance
1

Material change of use risk from C3 to serviced accommodation/C1 (or sui generis) if operated as frequent whole-home short-stay accommodation. Most non-major applications are decided in about 8 weeks (varies with validation/consultation).

2

Apply if required. Planning application (fee ~£528).

3

Income tax via HMRC. Business rates if available 140+ days & let 70+; else Council Tax. Rent-a-Room £7,500 (main home). Councils may charge up to 100% second-home premium from Apr 2025. FHL abolished 6 Apr 2025.

4

Complete a fire-risk assessment and follow the small paying-guest accommodation guide; install and maintain smoke alarms on each storey and CO alarms where required; test regularly and keep records.

Your Short-Term Rental Compliance Guide

Overview of requirements, authorities, and costs for short-term rental compliance

Enjoy hassle-free hosting with Houst

  • Income tax: Declare profits to HMRC. The Furnished Holiday Let (FHL) regime is abolished from 6 Apr 2025 (1 Apr 2025 for Corporation Tax). Holiday lets are taxed like other property income.
  • Business rates vs Council Tax: A whole-home STR is on VOA business rates if it’s available 140+ days and actually let 70+ days in the prior year; otherwise it stays on Council Tax. You may qualify for Small Business Rate Relief.
  • Second homes premium: From 1 Apr 2025, English councils can apply up to 100% Council Tax premium on furnished second homes (local exemptions apply).
  • Rent-a-Room (main home only): Up to £7,500 tax-free when letting a furnished room in your only or main home (shared → £3,750 each). Not for whole-home STRs.
  • Business rates for self-catering & holiday lets (Gov.uk)

    Edge Cases & Exemptions

  • Extensive conservation-area coverage in Sevenoaks District—check designations and appraisals before applying. The council lists 40+ conservation areas and provides an interactive map/datasets.
  • Article 4 Directions are used to remove selected permitted-development rights in certain streets/areas; confirm whether one affects your property (see council Article 4 pages and open-data layers; recent example: Kemsing CA Article 4).
  • Much of the district is Green Belt and AONB (Kent Downs/High Weald), so design/amenity and landscape impacts are closely scrutinised.
  • Leasehold/headlease or block rules may prohibit short-lets regardless of planning.
  • Business rates can be back-dated if the property meets self-catering thresholds (available 140+ days and let 70+).
  • Penalties & Enforcement

  • Planning: report alleged breaches online; you can also view the enforcement register.
  • Safety: failure to comply with a remedial notice under the Smoke/CO Alarm Regulations can attract a civil penalty up to £5,000 per notice.
  • Smoke/CO alarms: civil penalty up to £5,000 per remedial notice. Planning breaches: enforcement notice and potential prosecution/fines; rates may be back-dated if reclassified.

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    GOV.UK: Self-catering & holiday let (Business Rates)

    No single legal threshold. Treated case-by-case under planning (C3→C1 ‘material change of use’). London’s 90-night cap is unique to Greater London.

    Do I need planning permission in Sevenoaks?
    Is there a night cap or 90-day limit in Sevenoaks?
    Do I need to register or get a permit?
    What taxes do I need to pay for short-term lets?
    What safety requirements do short-term lets need to meet in Sevenoaks?

    Tools & Resources

    Planning Guidance
    Sevenoaks District Council – Planning
    Fire Safety Guidance
    Kent Fire & Rescue: Smoke alarms / home fire safety
    Tourist/Local Tax Guidance
    Business rates for self-catering & holiday lets (Gov.uk)
    National Safety Guidance
    Home Office: Small Paying-Guest Accommodation (fire safety)
    National Tax Guidance
    GOV.UK: Self-catering & holiday let (Business Rates)
    Regional Safety Guidance

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    This guide is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm with

    Sevenoaks District Council – Planning

    your local authority.