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STV News
3 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Plans to limit Airbnb-style lets delayed over fears it would 'kill' tourism
Proposals to introduce a Highland-wide restriction on holiday lets have been delayed amid concerns it could 'kill off' tourism in the region. The blanket proposals would have implemented measures that would have seen applications for short-term lets scrutinised more intensely by council officers. However, councillors instead opted for a more 'pragmatic' and 'sensible' approach, which would allow local areas the power to decide on restrictions. Rural councillors accused the proposals of letting Inverness 'make decisions for them' and resulted in the city councillors' proposal being withdrawn until a later date. Councillors ultimately found an alternative proposal, originally tabled by Aird and Loch Ness councillor Chris Ballance, to be more appropriate. His proposal, which was spearheaded by vice convenor Ken Gowans, delayed any blanket control zone of short-term lets until council officers could prepare a report on the consequences. His suggestion was supported by other councillors such as Wester Ross' Biz Campbell, who said: 'We do not cut off the hand that feeds us.' The plans would also give councillors the chance to implement local area restrictions, as have been successfully implemented in the Badenoch and Strathspey area. Councillor Gowans said the more tentative approach, which could still result in an overall clampdown across the region in the future, was 'pragmatic' and 'sensible.' In support of a scrapping the blanket ban, Skye councillor John Finlayson said: 'The introduction of any short-term let control areas across Highland should only be considered at a local level.' He said: 'No area, no local members and no communities need Inverness or other councillors from other areas to make decisions for them.' Fellow Skye councillor Ruraidh Stewart said the proposals could 'kill off Highland tourism,' but asked to scrap all restrictions on short-term lets as the current legislation 'has brought out the worst in communities.' Inverness councillor Michael Gregson told councillors the traditional Highland bed and breakfast experience was being lost to Airbnb-style visits with 'no welcome.' He said problems with housing in the Highlands are being created by companies buying multiple properties for short-term lets, and houses that could be used as homes lay empty. Councillor Gregson added: 'We are losing what could be valuable income in non-domestic rates and council tax.' Inverness councillor Duncan Macpherson said locals who feel like they are living next to 'miniature hotels' have 'no recourse' against the coming and going of visitors to their area of residence. However, after a period of debate in the chamber, they later agreed to withdraw their proposals. Inverness councillors Michael Gregson and Duncan Macpherson brought forward proposals in the hope it would tighten controls on short-term lets across the Highlands. They argued that the 7,011 short-term lets that have been approved, compared to just four refusals, highlight the scale of holiday lets across the region and a lack of action to restrict them. As part of their proposal, the council would have asked the Scottish Government to review short-term let licensing to allow applications to be rejected on the grounds of 'overprovision.' They also believed the council did not have enough powers with the current licensing legislation to reject applications. Edinburgh was the first council area to introduce the stricter controls back in 2022. In the Highlands, the Badenoch and Strathspey ward brought a control zone into their area last year. A short-term let control zone gives councils extra powers to manage short-term lets in an area that is particularly popular with holiday lets. While all holiday let hopefuls have to apply for a short-term let licence, in a control zone, applicants also need to apply for planning permission, which further scrutinises their proposals. A council report identifying how individual areas could implement restrictions similar to Badenoch and Strathspey will be prepared for September. The report will also include further information on a region-wide Highland clampdown of short-term lets, which could still be implemented. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
6 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Councillors propose control zone to limit Airbnb style lets in Highlands
Councillors are pushing to bring in a control zone that would limit the number of Airbnb-style lets in the Highlands. It has been suggested that the move would be a way of tackling a housing shortage across the region. Over 7,000 short-term let licences have been granted across the area covered by the Highland Council, with just four being refused. If the proposals are successful, then operators would need planning permission as well as a short-term licence. The plans have been brought to the table by Inverness councillors Michael Gregson and Duncan Macpherson who say the region needs around 24,000 new homes over the next decade. They believe the private long-term rental market has shrunk to unmanageable levels because of the shortage of properties available. It is hoped that a control zone would help tackle this issue. The proposals will be put forward to the Highland Council next week. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Councillors propose limit on Airbnb-style holiday lets in Scottish Highlands
Holiday lets would not be banned completely, but extra restrictions would be introduced. A control zone across the entire Highland region to limit Airbnb-style lets has been proposed as a way of tackling a shortage of homes in the area. The restrictions, which are already in place in a small part of the region, would not ban holiday lets completely - but would require operators to have planning permission as well as a short-term let licence. Michael Gregson and Duncan Macpherson, the local councillors who put forward the proposal, said the Highlands needed over 24,000 homes over the next 10 years. They added 7,011 short-term let licences had been granted across the region, but only four refused. They said the powers could be implemented where local demand called for them, reports the BBC. In a paper going out to next week's meeting of the full Highland Council, they said: "The private long-term rental market has shrunk disastrously: estate agents are withdrawing from letting out properties because of the shortage of properties available. "Even taking into account the efforts of Highland Council and the housing associations, there is a shortage of affordable housing." Council officials have said implementing the control status across the entire area would first require research, and could mean increased costs and workload for its planning department. The councillors explained the local authority should first ask the Scottish Government to revisit its original plan to have a policy for over-provision within short-term lets legislation. If this was not possible, they said approval for Highland control area status should be sought. Officials said in response both suggestions brought financial implications for the council, as well as potential challenges in extending the controls to the whole region. Highland Council's first control zone was approved in December 2023 and covers the areas of Badenoch and Strathspey. Councillors who supported it being implemented said it was needed because workers and local young people were having difficulties in finding affordable homes. However, the Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers (ASSC) said at the time targeting legitimate small businesses to address longstanding housing issues showed "a muddled sense of priorities". Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. A law requiring operators to have a licence was enforced across Scotland in October 2023. However, the introduction of control policies in other areas has also not been without its challenges. The City of Edinburgh Council previously had to amend its licensing scheme following a court ruling. The entire local authority area was designated as Scotland's first short-term let control area in September 2022. However, the following August, parts of the policy were deemed to be unlawful. This applied in particular to presumptions against allowing whole tenement flats being used for short-term lets, unless their owners could prove exemption. Opponents accused the council of attempting to "shut down the sector". Another change to the policy came in February this year, when costs of "home sharing" were reduced and some requirements, such as legionella testing, for homes rented with a temporary exemption to the scheme were scrapped. It was hoped this would help to ease the accommodation crisis during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which continues to affect visiting performers and audiences. This May, councillors in Perth and Kinross voted to begin creating Scotland's third control area, despite previously rejecting the move.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Huge blow to holidaymakers as major restrictions could hit popular Scots tourist spot
They already have the measure in one area LETS IT GO Huge blow to holidaymakers as major restrictions could hit popular Scots tourist spot Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOLIDAYMAKERS could be hit by new restrictions targeting a popular tourist spot. Councillors could introduce plans to bring in new curbs AirBnb-style lets across the entire Scottish Highlands. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Councillors have called for a short term let control zone across the Highlands Credit: Alamy 3 They want extra regulations on AirBnb style rentals Credit: Alamy Highland councillors have proposed the short-term let control zone over a shortage of homes for locals. It comes as 7,011 short-term rentals were given the green light across the Highlands, with only four being refused. A control zone would require people wanting to run an AirBnb-style let to have a licence or planning permission. The plan could impact the hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit the Highlands every year. Edinburgh's entire council area became Scotland's first control zone in 2022 to combat the flood of holiday rentals pricing out locals amid a nationwide housing crisis. The Highlands has had a control zone in Badenoch and Strathspey since March 2024. Highlands council recently heard how 24,000 homes will be needed over the next decade. Inverness councillors Michael Gregson and Duncan Macpherson are suggesting the council-wide control zone to protect locals. They said: "The private long-term rental market has shrunk disastrously: estate agents are withdrawing from letting out properties because of the shortage of properties available. We rented our home to family on Airbnb…but 500 feral teens TRASHED it after party "Even taking into account the efforts of Highland Council and the housing associations, there is a shortage of affordable housing." The councillors called on SNP ministers to change existing laws and introduce an "overprovision policy" to prevent AirBnbs taking over communities. But they said if that fails then the Highland-wide control zone should be brought in. Council officials responded saying both plans could end up causing more financial and legal work for staff. They also added a council-wide zone would need to be researched. They added it could also lead to extra workload and costs for the planning department.
The National
6 days ago
- Business
- The National
Scottish Highlands holiday lets control zone proposed
Councillors proposing the move said that 7011 short-term let licences had been granted across the region, but only four had been refused, according to the BBC. While holiday lets are not banned in control areas, operators need planning permission as well as a short-term lets licence. READ MORE: Private Scottish island with castle up for sale for £5.5m Inverness councillors Michael Gregson and Duncan Macpherson, who proposed the move, said that the powers could be used where there was local demand for them. They said the region needed more than 24,000 homes over the next 10 years, writing in a paper submitted to the council: "The private long-term rental market has shrunk disastrously: estate agents are withdrawing from letting out properties because of the shortage of properties available. "Even taking into account the efforts of Highland Council and the Housing Associations, there is a shortage of affordable housing." The councillors said Highlands Council should first ask the Scottish Government to revisit its original plan to have an overprovision policy within short-term lets legislation. They said if that was not possible, to then seek approval for Highland control area status. READ MORE: Scottish taxpayers should not be treated as 'afterthought' of HS2 project, say SNP In their response, Highland Council officials said there would be financial implications for the local authority around both suggestions from the councillors. They said that it would require research and, if introduced, could mean additional costs and workload for its planning department. Highland Council approved the first control zone in the area in December 2023, covering Badenoch and Strathspey. Elsewhere in Scotland, Edinburgh was officially designated Scotland's first short-term let control area in September 2022. Meanwhile, a law requiring operators to have a licence came into force across Scotland in October 2023.
