Short-term letting in St Albans, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire

Roman history, the Chilterns and the film studios

This market covers two commuter counties north-west of London with more visitor pull than their reputation suggests. In Hertfordshire, St Albans combines a cathedral, Roman Verulamium and a lively market with fast trains to the capital; Harpenden and Berkhamsted attract families visiting relatives, and the film studios at Leavesden bring both tourists and production crews. Buckinghamshire offers the Chiltern Hills, Stowe, Waddesdon and pretty towns such as Amersham, Marlow and Beaconsfield, while Silverstone, just over the border, fills rooms on race weekends.

How short lets are regulated here

Neither county has a licence or a register for short lets, and both lie outside Greater London, so there is no annual cap on nights. The government confirmed on 3 September 2026 that England's national register should be fully in place by March 2027. Planning is decided locally: Hertfordshire has ten district councils, Buckinghamshire a single unitary council, and each assesses whether the way a house is let amounts to a material change of use. The separate short-let use class England consulted on in 2024 has not been introduced.

Council tax and business rates

Since April 2025, councils may apply a premium of up to 100% on furnished homes that are nobody's sole or main residence. Policies vary between districts and from one budget to the next. If the property is available for at least 140 nights and actually let for 70, it can move to business rates; longer stays over 28 nights, typical of film crews, are excluded from that calculation.

Our view for owners in these counties

Production crews and corporate guests often book for weeks, so decide early whether to accept them and under what contract. Village properties in the Chilterns need careful neighbour relations and clear rules on parking, which is often limited. Check covenants on newer estates, which sometimes forbid business use. Tell us about the property: we study every request and tell you honestly whether and how we can help.

Studios, stately homes and the Metropolitan line

Film and television work extends across both counties. Pinewood Studios at Iver Heath brings crews and actors who need a furnished home near set; Knebworth House in Hertfordshire hosts major outdoor concerts that fill every room nearby. Hatfield House, Ashridge's woods and the Natural History Museum at Tring give Hertfordshire leisure appeal, while the Grand Union Canal draws walkers and narrowboat crews through Berkhamsted and Tring.

In Buckinghamshire, Bletchley Park at Milton Keynes attracts code-breaking enthusiasts, Great Missenden has the Roald Dahl Museum, and Beaconsfield keeps Bekonscot, a model village much loved by families. Cliveden above the Thames, Hughenden and the Hellfire Caves at West Wycombe complete the heritage circuit. Marlow's summer regatta and its riverside walks bring a well-heeled crowd.

For owners here

• Amersham and Chesham sit on the Metropolitan line, St Albans on Thameslink and the Chiltern towns on the Marylebone line, so name your station and journey time in the listing.
• Luton Airport, close to Harpenden, generates early-departure bookings; offer secure parking and a simple late check-in.
• For concert nights at Knebworth, set a firm policy on group size and arrival times.