Short-term let rules in New Forest (updated 29 Oct 2026)

No licensing or local registration scheme. A national short-term let register for England is coming under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023; GOV.UK (updated 2 Oct 2026) says it is expected to begin in March 2027.

Until then, the main local rules are council tax or business rates, planning, and fire safety.

Source: source

No short-let control area or Article 4 direction for holiday lets found (searched 26 Oct 2026). The C5 short-term let use class is still only a proposal in England, so whether letting a whole home is a material change of use is decided case by case by the planning authority.

Much of the district is in the New Forest National Park, where the National Park Authority handles planning. Check before converting a home or outbuilding.

The national planning data register lists 10 Article 4 directions for New Forest District Council and 26 for the National Park Authority. They cover things like gates and fences, building works, temporary uses and (since 2021 and 2023, across the National Park) temporary campsites, not holiday lets in houses.

The National Park Authority's draft Local Plan (Regulation 19, August 2026) proposes that all net new open-market homes in the Park carry a principal residence condition so they cannot be second homes. It is not yet adopted and would not apply to existing homes.

Source: source source source source

No visitor levy. On 10 Sep 2026 the government announced that mayors and Foundation Strategic Authority leaders in England will get the power to bring in an Overnight Visitor Levy, as a percentage of the accommodation price. A bill is still to come, so nothing applies yet.

Source: source

No short-let fees. Council tax: Full Council agreed in principle on 12 Dec 2022 and, on 26 Feb 2024, approved the formal determination to charge a 100% premium on furnished homes that are nobody's permanent residence from 1 Apr 2025, so second homes pay 200%.

The 2026/27 council tax base (Cabinet 3 Dec 2025) still includes it, for about 1,210 homes. Most of the extra money goes to Hampshire County Council (about 70%), with about 9% to the district council.

Exceptions (national rules from 1 Apr 2025) include: annexes treated as part of the main home (Class F); homes actively marketed for sale or let (Classes G and H, 12 months); probate (Class I, 12 months); job-related homes (Class J); occupied caravan pitches and boat moorings (Class K); and seasonal homes where year-round living is banned, or a planning condition limits use to holiday accommodation or stops anyone staying more than 28 days in a row (Class L).

A Dec 2024 review recommended no extra local exceptions, and the council's page says it has no discretion to reduce, delay or waive the premium beyond the listed exceptions. To claim the sale or letting exception, email counciltax@nfdc.gov.uk with the date first advertised, the agent and online listing link, evidence the price or rent is a fair market value, the energy performance certificate and any other steps you are taking.

Empty and unfurnished homes: since 1 Apr 2025 the premium starts after 1 year (it was 2 years before): 100% after 1 year, 200% after 5 years and 300% after 10 years. Empty-home exceptions include major repairs or structural alterations (up to 12 months; send dates, details of the works and photos).

If your holiday let meets the business rates test (available at least 140 nights and actually let at least 70 nights in the last 12 months, and you plan to offer 140 nights in the next 12), it is valued for business rates instead of council tax, so the premium does not apply.

A single let with a rateable value under £15,000 may get small business rate relief.

Source: source source source source source source