Short-term rental registration scheme on hold: Janet Uttley of the STAA on what happens next

Aug 23
8 min read

The UK's long-awaited short-term rental registration scheme is on hold while the new government administration settles in – that's the headline from Janet Uttley, the new Chief Executive of the Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA), on the latest Host Planet Podcast. In a wide-ranging conversation with James Varley, Janet gives her read on where registration really stands, why it matters for the tourism levy, the fight over business rates, and how the STAA is teaming up with the Host Planet Roadshow to get out into the regions.

Catch the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

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Key takeaways

The registration scheme is on hold. With a new Prime Minister and government administration bedding in, there's no confirmed go-live date – Janet's best estimate is at least eight months away, possibly more.
Registration and the tourism levy go hand in hand. You can't fairly roll out a levy across England without the solid data a registration scheme provides.
The real levy battle is consistency. With 14+ mayoral authorities and 137 local authorities potentially going their own way, the risk is a chaotic patchwork of schemes.
Business rates and past tax changes (like the end of Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHL) relief) continue to squeeze operators – and the STAA is pushing back.
The STAA is the industry's voice so operators can focus on the day job – and it's collaborating with the Host Planet Roadshow as strategic partner to reach hosts region by region.

Who is Janet Uttley?

Janet Uttley is the new Chief Executive of the Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA), and is a few months into the role at the time of recording. She joins from Visit England, where she spent years on the destination side of tourism – so she understands the sector from every angle: the host, the guest, and the places they visit. Having also worked alongside the STAA and the Short Stay Summit for the previous three years, she stepped into the top job already knowing the industry well.

What is the STAA?

The Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA) is the UK trade body representing hosts, property managers, and the wider short-term rental (STR) industry. As Janet frames it, the association exists to be the sector's voice – doing the lobbying, responding to government consultations, and enabling peer-to-peer learning – so that operators can get on with the day job of running their properties and delivering great guest experiences.

Why is the short-term rental registration scheme on hold?

This is the news most hosts will want first. After years of anticipation, the registration scheme has stalled – and the reason is political.

"We know it's on hold. We have a new government administration, and that administration has to settle in and decide the focus points it wants to take forward."

With Andy Burnham having taken over as Prime Minister, the new administration's priorities are still being set. Janet is careful to stress the groundwork is largely done – members and other operators have already been able to test the registration platform to check it's simple, quick to use, and fit for purpose – but the final decisions and launch sit with government.

"We do not know when go-live will be. My best guesstimate is that we're talking a good eight months, possibly more, away now."

For hosts, the practical message is: nothing is happening imminently, but it isn't going away – and the STAA is lobbying hard to keep it moving.

What would a good registration scheme actually look like?

Janet's benchmark is a scheme that is simple, easy to use, and has teeth – while being robust enough to be credible. She's candid that, as it stands, it may not be as robust as the industry would like on certain elements such as the fire safety evidence base.

But the prize is data. A registration scheme would finally reveal the true footprint of the sector – how many short-term rentals actually exist in a given destination, which is a genuinely powerful tool. Right now, as James put it, the numbers are "glorified guesswork," inflated by properties being counted multiple times across different OTAs. There is still no definitive figure for how many STRs there are in England, Wales, and Scotland.

Janet's open questions are about how that data is handled:

Who gets access to the data, and how will it be shared – and is that in the industry's best interest?
Fairness to booking platforms, which are global businesses – the process must work for platforms and operators alike, rather than exposing platforms to fines for operators who haven't registered.

Why do registration and the tourism levy go hand in hand?

One of Janet's most important points is that registration isn't just an end in itself – it's the foundation for everything that follows, including the tourism levy.

"You cannot roll out a tourism levy across England without solid data – and registration gives you that data. We want to see the two running in tandem. That's the ultimate."

In other words, if a levy arrives before proper registration, it risks being built on the same unreliable guesswork the sector has struggled with for years.

The tourism levy: why the real battle is consistency

On the levy itself, Janet is pragmatic. Fighting the principle of a tourism levy outright, she suggests, may be a battle the sector won't win. The battle worth having is over consistency – how it's implemented.

The concern is fragmentation. With 14-plus mayoral authorities (a number that's growing), 137 local authorities across England and Scotland, plus Wales, there's a real risk of a chaotic patchwork – especially for property managers operating across county boundaries. Early examples show how varied it's already becoming:

Edinburgh has gone live with a 5% levy, capped at a maximum of five nights, collected at source on site – a real challenge for STRs, which often have no reception desk to collect payment, and a potential flashpoint if a guest refuses to pay on arrival.
Wales (Cardiff) is preparing for a visitor levy from April 2027, at £1.30 per person, per night.
England remains unknown – and with two different versions already in play, Janet's fear is ending up with "14-plus different versions across England."

Underlying all of this is a complex lobbying map: registration sits under DCMS, levies are likely to fall under MHCLG (with Number 10 input), and business rates under the business/trade department – then down through mayors and local authorities. Joining it all up, Janet says, is the big challenge right now.

Where do business rates fit in?

Business rates remain a live issue for holiday let owners, and the STAA is engaged on multiple fronts. Janet points to a fresh development: an announcement from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the visitor levy – chaired by Chris Webb MP and led by UKHospitality – which took evidence across the whole sector and issued recommendations the STAA is proud to get behind.

Her core argument on business rates is about the value of accommodation itself:

"It's the accommodation provider that gets someone to stay longer, spend more, and influences where they eat, shop, and visit – and how they promote a destination through word of mouth."

The STAA has already submitted to a consultation on business rates and is pushing MPs to raise questions in the House about whether any new approach is fair and proportionate – particularly after a run of pressures on operators, from the end of FHL tax relief to rising energy costs.

What does the STAA actually do for hosts?

Janet's vision for her first year rests on three priorities: a voice at every table on the issues that matter (registration, business rates, levies); collaboration with the other industry bodies, including PASC UK and the ASSC in Scotland; and widening the reach of the Short Stay Summit into the broader tourism ecosystem.

The through-line is that operators shouldn't have to fight these battles alone.

"We're here to be that voice – to work hard at the lobbying, and make sure responses are made to the many government consultations – so operators can keep an eye on the day job."

Host Planet Roadshow × STAA: getting out into the regions

A major focus of the episode is the collaboration between the Host Planet Roadshow and the STAA, which has come on board as strategic partner. For Janet, the appeal is that the Roadshow does something a London summit can't – it goes into the destinations where property managers actually are.

"It takes you into the destination, where the property managers actually are – and it's another opportunity to network. You take your ideas from the summit, then bring them to a Host Planet event."

Janet will be speaking as part of a series of talks on the Roadshow, giving live updates on the registration scheme and her conversations with the new government. As a self-described "digital nomad," she's also planning to tag key lobbying meetings onto each Roadshow location – so she can bring real-time, on-the-ground intelligence straight into the room.

Remaining Host Planet Roadshow dates:

Nottinghamshire – 14 September, One Call Stadium, Mansfield (event partner: Simply Owners; a day dedicated to direct bookings, with roundtables, networking and learning)
Bath (event partner: Curated Property) – 7 October
Chester (event partner: Sykes Holiday Cottages) –10 November
Edinburgh (event partner: Adore Scotland) – 3 December

Tickets are £40 each, with a discount for STAA members. Click here to grab yours.

The Short Stay Summit

Beyond the Roadshow, Janet is passionate about the STAA's flagship event, the Short Stay Summit – returning on 21 April 2027 at Old Billingsgate. Building on this year's success, expect a mainstage of thought leaders and innovators plus expanded learning labs designed to send attendees home with a notebook full of ideas to put into practice. Host Planet is proud to be the Headline Media Partner for the Summit – and is set to host its own event on 20 April at the Royal Over-Seas League. Watch this space for full details of the 2027 Roadshow.

How hosts can get involved

Janet is refreshingly open to hearing from the industry – whether you agree with her, disagree, or think something's missing from what a trade association should offer.

"Reach out and tell me – whether it's 'I didn't agree with what you said' or 'I'd like to add to it.' That's a golden nugget."

You can email her directly at janet.uttley@ukstaa.org.

Frequently asked questions

Is the UK short-term rental registration scheme still happening? Yes, but it's on hold. According to STAA CEO Janet Uttley, the scheme is paused while the new government administration under Prime Minister Andy Burnham settles in and sets its priorities. There is no confirmed launch date – her best estimate is at least eight months away, possibly longer.

Why does the registration scheme matter for the tourism levy? Because a tourism levy can't be rolled out fairly across England without accurate data on how many short-term rentals exist. Registration provides that data, which is why the STAA wants registration and the levy introduced in tandem.

What is happening with the tourism levy in the UK? It varies by nation and region. Edinburgh has gone live with a 5% levy (capped at five nights, collected on site), Wales is preparing a £1.30 per person, per night levy from April 2027, and England's approach is still undecided. The STAA's main concern is inconsistency across 14+ mayoral and 137 local authorities.

What is the STAA? The Short Term Accommodation Association is the UK trade body representing hosts, property managers, and the wider short-term rental industry. It lobbies government, responds to consultations, and represents the sector's voice so operators can focus on running their properties.

What is the Host Planet Roadshow? The Host Planet Roadshow is a series of regional short-term rental events, with the STAA as strategic partner. Remaining 2026 dates are Nottinghamshire (14 September), Bath (7 October), Chester (10 November), and Edinburgh (3 December). Tickets are £40, with a discount for STAA members.

How can I contact the STAA's Janet Uttley? You can email Janet Uttley directly at janet.uttley@ukstaa.org. She welcomes feedback and suggestions from hosts and property managers across the industry.

Listen to the full episode

Hear Janet Uttley's full conversation on the Host Planet Podcast for the complete picture on registration, the tourism levy, business rates and how the STAA is working with the Host Planet Roadshow to support hosts across the UK.