More than 100 million guest nights were spent in UK short-term lets during 2025, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The data shows that 100.9 million guest nights were recorded across online short-term letting platforms between January and December 2025, marking an 11.5% increase compared with the previous year.
The figures underline the continued growth of the short-term rental sector, which has become an increasingly important part of the UK’s tourism and accommodation market.
Wales recorded the strongest growth of any UK nation, with guest nights rising by 17.4% year-on-year to 7.37 million. England saw an increase of 11.1%, while Scotland recorded growth of 10.9% and Northern Ireland 10.8%.
DOMESTIC TOURISM
At a regional level, the North East experienced the fastest growth in demand, with guest nights increasing by 22.2% compared with 2024.
August remained the busiest month for short-term lets, accounting for more than 14 million guest nights and around 14% of the annual total.
The data also highlights the growing importance of domestic tourism.
The proportion of guest nights generated by UK residents increased to 67.2% in 2025, up from 64.2% the previous year, suggesting domestic travellers continue to play a dominant role in supporting the sector.
INTERNATIONAL TOURISM
Among international visitors, Germany recorded the strongest growth in guest nights, increasing by 8.5% year-on-year.
However guest nights from some traditionally important overseas markets, including the United States and France, declined.
The figures are likely to reignite debate around the role of short-term lets in local housing markets, particularly in areas where concerns have been raised about the impact of holiday accommodation on housing availability and affordability.
At the same time, supporters of the sector argue that short-term lets provide an important source of tourism income and economic activity for local communities.
HOUSING SUPPLY
Nathan Emerson (main picture, inset), CEO at Propertymark, says: “The latest ONS data highlights the continued growth of short-term lets but also reinforces concerns about the impact they can have on the supply of homes available in the private rented sector.
“While short-term lets support tourism and local economies, an increasing number of properties being diverted from long-term rental use can reduce housing availability and place further pressure on affordability, particularly in high-demand areas.”
And he adds: “These figures demonstrate the need for local authorities to have access to robust data and appropriate powers to address imbalances where short-term lets are affecting housing supply.
“Propertymark continues to call for greater parity between the short-term lets sector and the private rented sector, ensuring communities can benefit from tourism without compromising access to homes for local residents.”
