In light of London’s escalating housing pressures, new government measures are set to regulate Airbnb-style short-term lets, which have contributed to the reduction in available residential properties. This issue is particularly pronounced in London's Westminster area, where over 10,500 homes are utilized for holiday stays, including around 90% of properties in the Forset Court apartment building near Hyde Park. The new rules, effective from this summer, require landlords to obtain local authority permission to convert properties into short-term lets though this excludes those renting out their primary residence for under 90 nights a year. Additionally, only new short-term lets need planning permission, with existing ones being reclassified, leading to concerns about a lack of accountability for past regulatory breaches.
In transportation updates, the entire central section of London's Elizabeth line now has 4G connectivity, with plans to extend this to all tunnels by year-end. The project, led by Boldyn Networks, is financed sans cost to Transport for London (TfL) and is expected to include the Overground and DLR by the end of 2025.
In sports, Tottenham Hotspur faces a crucial match against Manchester City, impacting both their own prospects for qualifying for the Champions League and the outcome of the Premier League title race. Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou has emphasized his commitment to winning, despite mixed emotions among fans regarding the potential benefit to rivals Arsenal.